Some of Missouri's best

While Thursday’s 60-14 loss to Warrensburg exposed Smith-Cotton’s youth and inexperience, it reaffirmed the talent of the Tigers’ top wrestlers.

Zach Dake, Trey Taber, Josh Brust and Dakota Proctor justified their state rankings just three weeks before their district tournament begins by going 2-2 against eighth-ranked Warrensburg.

The four grapplers, along with Emily Webster, are currently ranked in the top four in their weight classes for their district — which would put them all in range of qualifying for the state tournament.

But before punching their tickets to Columbia, the quintet will need to save their best performances for the end of the year.

“Our district is going to be tough,” Smith-Cotton coach Joel Sherman said. “Even though we have four state-ranked wrestlers, they’re all — besides Taber who’s ranked first in districts — ranked fourth. It makes it tough on them because one mistake, and they could be sitting at home and not at state. We still have a lot of work to do.”

The grappler with the most on the line at the district and state meets is Dake, a 10th-ranked 135-pound senior who has made state all three years and nearly advanced to the semifinals as a junior.

“The goal is never to just qualify,” Dake said. “I’ve been there every year, so I have the experience. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and this is the year I’m finally ready to place.”

Just short of 100 career wins, Dake was 13-1 after Thursday’s meet on the strengths of his speed, technique and a never-flinching approach to every match.

“Zach’s an easy kid to coach,” Sherman said. “It’s hard to rattle him. He’s just short of a milestone and he’s focused on what he needs to accomplish. I think this will be the year he makes the podium (top six).”

His good friend Brust, a seventh-ranked 140-pound junior who made state his sophomore season, was 12-3  after taking second-ranked Kevin Brown, of Warrensburg, the distance Thursday.

Sherman attributes his success to his aggressiveness.

“Brust is just a gung-ho, offense guy,” he said. “He needs to learn to stay in good position and I’m trying to rein that in, but he’s always the one that’s forcing the action and that helps him out a bit.”

Brust, armed with lofty goals of making the podium, believes Dake’s help made a difference for him.

“Work hard, get there, Place top six is my goal,” he said. “Zach’s help has made it easier to focus. Me and Zach practice every day and we go at it hard. It’s great to have his support.”

Taber, who was undefeated at 10-0 before this weekend’s tournament in Branson, flew under the radar entering the season after an injury ended his junior campaign.

The senior heavyweight has emerged as a front-runner of late, earning his No. 9 ranking after winning the Raytown South tournament and defeating fifth-ranked Ian Knell, of Branson.

Despite heading into the district tournament with a bulls-eye on his back, Taber has not put too much weight on the ranking, believing his talent will help him measure up to the hype.

“I don’t really worry about state rankings,” he said. “It’s just a number. The expectations are good and bad because it motivates me but I also have to perform at a high level every match.

“I’m in better shape than most of my opponents with all the running we do, and I pride myself on technique. Technique beats strength any day.”

Sherman believes Taber’s work ethic and athleticism is the key to his success.

“He’s one of the hardest workers I have,” he said. “He’s got real good balance and for a heavyweight, he can come off the mat and in the down position, he can get away or score the reversal.

“A lot of heavyweights struggle in the down position just because of the sheer amount of weight on them, but not Trey.”

Ranked ninth in state, Proctor’s 12-3 record (through Thursday) as a 171-pound sophomore should surprise no one, considering his results as a youth grappler.

“Dakota’s been wrestling for a long time,” Sherman said. “He’s strong, he’s quick and he has all the tools.”

Proctor’s experience nearly landed him a trip to state last year, but he was beat out by a point. The close call should help fuel his dream this season.

“I’m hoping to at least make it to state this year,” Proctor said. “Getting beat out by a point was hard, but this year should be different.”

At 10-3 through Thursday, Webster experienced state as a freshman at Cameron before transferring to Smith-Cotton last year. Labeled the hardest worker by Sherman, the 103-pound grappler takes notes, stays late, asks questions and does more pull-ups, sit-ups and push-ups than anyone on the team.

Along with Webster, John Simpson, Adam Smith, Lucas Ficken and Billy Garrigus are on the bubble of earning a top-four place at district and making it to state.

“We’ve got a lot of guys on the edge that I’d like to see make the trip to state,” Sherman said. “But we’ll see. I’m expecting Emily and our ranked wrestlers to go and I’d be happy with that, but any more would be welcomed.”

Dake, Brust, Taber, Proctor and Webster agreed that with more numbers at state, the trip would be that much more memorable.

“The most wrestlers I’ve seen from here go to state was three,” Dake said. “It would be great to have that support and we’d all take advantage of that.”