HOME IS SWEET: Mules wrestle way to win in first match of year at own gym

The Poplar Bluff Mules wrestling team made the most of its home debut on Tuesday.

The Mules took a 56-10 win over the Kennett Indians on the boys side, while the Lady Mules lost 40-6, but split its two matches on the mat.

Zekey Camden (144 pounds), Noah Perkins (157), Karson Rolland (165) and Karter Blanchard (215) all pinned their opponents, while Branson Crum (138) won by technical fall when he went ahead 18-0 in his match. Adrian Paulson-Riveros (126 pounds) won a 21-14 decision over his opponent.

Kennett’s two wins were earned by Kevin Thompson (285 pounds), who won by fall, and Logan Decker (132), who won by a 14-1 major decision.

On the girls side, Zoe Freeman (235 pounds) earned the Lady Mules’ lone win with a first-round pin. With Poplar Bluff having just three female wrestlers, all but one of Kennett’s wins were by open-class forfeit. Jamarria Rogers (130 pounds) won by major decision to earn the Lady Indians’ lone win on the mat.

The Mules and Lady Mules are both back on the mats Friday and Saturday at the St. Charles Invitational.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Lady Mules split triangular

The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules swimming and diving team took second in a three-team triangular with 122 points. West Plains won with 134 points, while Farmington was third with 37.

Kate Scott won the 50-yard freestyle for Poplar Bluff, while teammate Kinsley Gibbs took third. Three Lady Mules relay teams took second — the 200-yard medley relay team of Lily Gregory, Maclaren Moore, Keira Willis and Scott, the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Gracie Brown, Samiya Anders, Gabbie Balz and Gibbs and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Willis, Moore, Scott and Gregory.

Willis took second in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard freestyle, while Gregory did the same in the 100-yard freestyle. Scott also took second in the 500-yard freestyle, while Zoie McCormick did the same in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Three more relay teams took third on Tuesday — the 200-yard medley team of Claire Faries, McCormick, DeeAnna Cross and Gibbs, the 200-yard freestyle team of Lynn Cotrell, Delyla Barnum, Cross and Faries and the 400-yard freestyle team of Cotrell, Anders, Brown and Balz.

Cotrell finished third in the 100-yard freestyle, while Moore was third in the 100-yard butterfly, Anders took third in the 100-yard breastroke, Balz finished third in the 100-yard backstroke and Gregory placed third in the 200-yard intermediate medley.

The Lady Mules are off until Jan. 28, when they host Cape Central.

BASKETBALL

West Plains 67, Poplar Bluff 57

At West Plains, the Mules fell into a 13-point halftime hole and could not dig out as they lost their third game in a row.

The host Zizzers led 34-21 at the intermission. Poplar Bluff trimmed the hosts’ lead to 58-53 late in the game, but could not complete the comeback.

Dallas Williams and Sammy Durden each scored 12 points to lead the Mules, while Jay Edmundson had 11, Brendan Durden added 10 and Markell Heard finished with nine.

The Mules (7-7) are at Kickapoo High School in Springfield on Friday.