One member of the St. James High wrestling team is attempting to return to the medal stand while the other is hoping to begin a run of multiple trips to Columbia during this week’s Missouri Class 2 State Tournament, to be held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 25-26 at the Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers will be represented by senior Josh Carpenter in the 215-pound weight class and sophomore Lucas Jackson at 285 in this season’s state meet. Both will have first-round matches Wednesday. Quarterfinals and the first two rounds of wrestle-backs will continue Wednesday, with action resuming Thursday.

The Grand March for the Boys’ Class 2 State Tournament begins at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, with first-round matches beginning at 6 p.m. The quarterfinals and first round of wrestle-backs will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Carpenter finished second in the Class 3 District Tournament, held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21 in Buffalo High School. His setback in the district championship match was Carpenter’s first defeat of the season. He enters state tournament competition with a 25-1 record.

Jackson finished fourth at district in 285 and now has a 26-6 mark.
Carpenter is a returning all-state wrestler, finishing in fifth place at 215 during the 2025 Class 2 State Tourney. It is Jackson’s first trip to the state tourney.

“For Josh, our goal is to place higher than last year,” said St. James head coach Justin McEnaney. “Lucas is just a sophomore and the goal for him is to see how far he can get. It’s a great learning experience for him.”

Both Tiger state qualifiers ended the regular season ranked in the top-10 of the MissouriWrestling.com’s Class 2 state poll, with Carpenter ranked No. 2 at 215 and Jackson No. 9 at 285.

In Wednesday’s first round Carpenter is scheduled to meet Excelsior Springs senior Cooper Lester (30-12), who placed third at 215 in the District 4 Tournament, while Jackson is to face Cardinal Ritter junior Gabriel Casteblanco (25-1), who won 285 at the District 1 Tournament.

Carpenter has certainly come a long way since struggling to a 2-32 won-loss record as a Tiger freshman. Now he’s gunning to be a two-time state placer.

“I’ve put in a lot of time in the off-season, honing my skills,” Carpenter said. “My strength has increased this year and I’m a better top wrestler. And I’ve got go-to pinning combinations opposed to the years before. And I’m quicker to get out on bottom.”

McEnaney feels Carpenter is peaking at the right time.

“He started a little slow,” McEnaney said. “He had no real difficult matches until the second half of the season, then he turned it on. He’s a pretty strong wrestler at 215. His height makes him look more like a 190-pounder. But he’s strong for 215. His neutral game has gotten a lot better, and his finishing moves to the pin is better.”

Carpenter enlisted last August into the U.S. Army National Guard and this summer begins his national guard training. Then in the spring of 2027 he plans to enroll at Missouri S&T to major in mechanical engineering. An All-Four Rivers Conference and all-district lineman for the St. James High football squad, Carpenter said there is a chance he could also play football at S&T.
He hopes to end his Tiger wrestling career with another all-state placement.
“I think I’d be happy just improving on last year,” Carpenter said. “If it’s just improving one spot, I think I’d be happy.”

In his first season as a full-time varsity wrestler, Jackson is just thrilled to be at the state tourney.
“After the blood round (at district), I was super happy when I made it,” Jackson said. “I want to thank my coaches and teammates. I’ve been doing a bunch of training. I want to thank my workout partners Josh (Carpenter) and Zane (Achterberg).”

“He’s progressed a lot this year,” McEnaney said of Jackson. “Last year he was a backup heavyweight who came on at the season of the season. And we knew he’d do great things this year. Last year and the beginning of this year he struggled on top, and he’s still working on it. But he’s gotten a lot better on top and neutral. And at heavyweight, a lot of those guys are strong but not flexible. (Jackson) has worked hard on being more flexible and mobile, and that’s why he’s one of the top 10 in the state.”
Jackson feels he’s come a long way from last year.

“My strength has definitely gotten better,” he said. “My workout partners have got me in the weight room more. My main technique improvement is standing up and my neutral game. I’m getting my under hooks in.”

Jackson hopes this season begins a three-year run to the state meet, and wants to gain valuable state experience this week.

“I’m just going in happy to be here,” he said. “I’m here and ready to wrestle. At state this year, if I don’t get a first-round win, I think I can get a second-round win. My goal next year is to be district champion. I’ll be working my butt off the next couple of years. I feel like I could probably place at state my senior year.”

St. James’ first-round matches Wednesday, Feb. 25:

215 - Josh Carpenter (25-1), sr., St. James, vs. Cooper Lester (30-12), sr., Excelsior Springs.

285 - Lucas Jackson (26-6), soph., St. James, vs. Gabriel Casteblanco (25-1), jr., Cardinal Ritter.