Retrospect: Patriots won 10th straight

The Patriots fell short of a wrestling sectional title this year (see page 10).

But 25 years ago this week, JCHS cruised to its 10th straight sectional championship.

The Jay County High School wrestling team had seven individual champions and three more regional qualifiers on its way to the team title during the sectional tournament it hosted Jan. 31, 1987.

The Patriots totaled 215.5 points, besting runner-up Winchester (168) and third-place Union City (114). Monroe Central finished fourth with 80.5 points and Randolph Southern was last out of five teams with 52 points.

David Ferguson (105 pounds) and Eric LeMaster (145) were individual champions for the third consecutive season. Geoff Glogas (98), Troy Jacks (112) and Larry Brown (HWT) became two-time champions, while Pete Bailey (119) and current JCHS assistant coach Bruce Wood (126) won their first title.

Jay County had three wrestlers compete in the sectional final but came up short. Those included Bill Bailey (132), Doug Mulhlenkamp (138) and Greg Nichols (185).

At the time, those placing first or second in each weight class advanced to regional.

Jay County went on to win regional for the fourth consecutive season.

The following year, the Patriots won their 11th straight sectional and fifth regional in a row — the last year JCHS was crowned regional champion.