Boys wrestling spotlight: St. Charles’ Ward does his homework in pursuit of Class 2 state title

Things also are going well in his new leadership role.

Of the six Pirates wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament last season, five were seniors. Ward has relished his role as captain on a boys team that will send nine wrestlers into the sectional round.

“I don’t like to lead verbally. I like to lead through my actions,” Ward said. “I don’t yell or scream. I just show my work ethic and how I carry myself.”

It is a leadership style St. Charles first-year wrestler and 152-pound district champion Yidenpen Bayili said he appreciates.

“He’s a leader that helps everybody improve and never gives up on anybody,” Bayili said. “I’m thankful that I have Trey Ward on my team.”

Ward certainly has modeled to his teammates how to recover from setbacks, emerging from both a knee sprain and a bout with coronavirus earlier this season to regain top form on his journey through the postseason.

And with his meticulous film study and confident mindset, Ward hopes to emerge again, this time on the highest step of the medal podium at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.

“I’m just waiting to see it,” his father Nick said. “It will be exciting and fun.”

AREA SECTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

Saturday

Class 4 Sectional 1 at Northwest-Cedar Hill

Teams: CBC, Eureka, Fox, Jackson, Kirkwood, Lafayette, Lindbergh, Marquette, Northwest-Cedar Hill, Oakville, Parkway South, Poplar Bluff, Seckman, Washington

Class 4 Sectional 2 at Francis Howell Central

Teams: Battle, Fort Zumwalt West, Francis Howell, Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood West, Hickman, Holt, Pattonville, SLUH, Timberland, Troy

Class 3 Sectional 1 at Hillsboro

Teams: Cape Central, De Soto, Farmington, Festus, Hillsboro, Mehlville, North County, Pacific, Parkway West, Sikeston, Union, Vianney, Webster Groves, Windsor

Class 3 Sectional 2 at Fort Zumwalt South

Teams: Chaminade, Clayton, De Smet, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt South, Hannibal, Hazelwood East, Ladue, Liberty, McCluer North, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Warrenton, Whitfield

Class 2 Sectional 1 at Ste. Genevieve

Teams: Affton, Borgia, Cape Notre Dame, Dexter, Hancock, Herculaneum, Kennett, Owensville, Park Hills Central, Potosi, St. Clair, St. James, St. Mary’s, Ste. Genevieve, Sullivan, Westminster

Class 2 Sectional 2 at Helias

Teams: Blair Oaks, Fulton, Helias, Lutheran St. Charles, Mexico, Orchard Farm, Priory, Southern Boone, St. Charles, St. Charles West, University City, Winfield, Wright City

Class 1 Sectional 1 at Palmyra

Teams: Brentwood, Centralia, DuBourg, Hallsville, Lift for Life, Missouri Military, New Madrid County Central, North County, O’Fallon Christian, Tolton, Trinity, Valle

Note: Top three finishers in each of 14 weight classes at sectional tournaments advance to Missouri boys wrestling state tournament, scheduled for March 10-13 at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.