Against a difficult opponent, it was two of Poplar Bluff's newest faces who impressed coach Kelton Thompson.
Poplar Bluff got two pins in a 55-14 loss against McCracken County (Kent.), both by people who have never wrestled before this season.
"We knew it was going to be tough, we knew they were going to be physical, but we weren't really worried about that. We're just trying to be the best wrestlers we could be before we got here," said Thompson, who added that McCracken qualified its entire varsity roster for state last season.
"They were good where we were good, and we lost a lot of those flip matches. If we could have won some of those flip matches through the middle weights, we would have had a shot."
Braelin Aldridge, in her first match ever, took an early bump and rebounded to get a pin to kick off the night.
"She really looked physical. She used her hips well. She's also somebody who has never wrestled before," Thompson said.
Added Aldridge, "I was really nervous. Coach (Thompson) looked at me and told me to breathe. I got out there and just got in my zone ... When I fell, I thought I was done for, but then I got up super fast and I thought, 'This is my first match. I am not losing this.'"
Her points were not factored into the 55-14 score, because MSHSAA this season had made girls wrestling a separate sport with its own state tournament.
"It was exciting. It was a great experience because a lot of people don't think girls should be able to wrestle guys or wrestle in general. It was, honestly, a great opportunity," Aldridge said.
Gavyn Hays (220 pounds) earned the other pin for the Mules (5-2-1). He got a quick takedown and leaned across his opponent's shoulders for a few moments before they finally touched the mat. Like Aldridge, this is Hays' first year wrestling.
"Really starting to come together. He's only been wrestling for about a month. He started this season and he is a tough physical kid. He is really starting to figure wrestling out now, so we are excited for him," Thompson said.
Jake Lawrinenko (126) earned a technical win after building a 17-point lead in the second period. He was ahead 8-0 after the first and put Poplar Bluff on the scoreboard after McCracken jumped out to a 15-0 lead.
The Mules, though, wouldn't pick up points again until Wyatt Lazalier at 182.
Lazalier built a 7-0 lead at the end of the first period, but had to avoid a pair of near falls before holding on for a 14-9 win.
The Mules roster was missing Jake Smothers, who is out with an injury, and Thompson is hoping to tweak the lineup before they face Farmington next week. Ideally, he said, Smothers will return and both Lawrinenko (126) and Quinten Bell (132) will move down a weight class to make room for Vince Kelley on the varsity roster.
"Those two have to get down for him to get there," Thompson said. "We're hopeful by Farmington, we can have (our best lineup)."