The first State Wrestling Tournament for high school wrestlers in the state of Missouri was held in 1931 at the Rothwell
gym on the University of Missouri - Columbia campus.
Hickman High School competed in this first tournament under the instruction of Coach Fowler Young. Coach Young
was also a varsity wrestler for the MU tigers at the same time he coached the Hickman team. This first Hickman
team became the first wrestling team to be crowned State Champs. Coach Fowler coached the team in 1932 and 1933.
The team placed 2nd and 8th respectively.
In 1934 and 1935 the Hickman team competed without a coaching staff. They depended on the leadership of their captains,
F.E. Daugherty in 1934 and Ross Brown in 1935. The 1934 team qualfied 8 wrestlers to the state tournament where
4 wrestlers took home a medal; 1 Champion, 2-3rd's, and 1- 4th place. The team itself finished 5th.
The 1935 team qualified 9 wrestlers, with 5 taking home a medal, 4 of which were the state championship title and 1-3rd place.
This 1935 took home the team title of Team Champions!!
In 1936 Coach Carl Hulen a MU wrestler coached the team. He led 9 wrestlers to State, where 6 took home medals.
3 wrestlers were crowned State Champs, 2 won 2nd place medals, and 1 won a 3rd place medal. The team also brought
the Championship Team title home for the 2nd year in a row. (This was the 3rd and last time, to present, a
wrestling team title would come back home with the Hickman Kewpies.)
In 1937 the team was without a coach again. The team did however secure a 3rd place finish in the State tournament
as a team, even with only having one returning letterman on the team. 9 wrestlers made it to state, with 4 bringing
home a medal; 2- 3rd's, and 2-2nds.
In 1938 the team was again without a coach, so the kids asked Coach Hatfield, the boys basketball coach, to serve as
a coach in name. Coach Hatfield agreed, but instructed the team to have workout practices with the boys from University
High in Columbia. The boys did as they were told. Nine of the wrestlers from Hickman went to state,
and 7 returned with medals; 5- 2nd place medals, and 2- 3rds. The boys also brought home the 3rd place team trophy for
the second year in a row.
From 1940 until 1965, there was no wrestling at Hickman High.
A New Era of Wrestling Starts at Hickman:
In 1965 Dan Judy brought wrestling back as a competitive sport at the school. Coach Judy was successful in qualifying
6 of his men to the State touranment that year. In 1966-1968 the Hickman team placed 2nd at Districts 3 years
in a row. 1967-1969 Coach Judy continued coaching his young team. These 2 years he was unsuccessful taking anyone
to state, but he was creating an interest in the sport at the school. Judy held instructional wrestling matches at school
assemblies to teach those unfamiliar with the wrestling about the sport.
In 1970 Coach Judy qualified 2 wrestlers for the state tournament. One wrestler also became the first State Champion since
1936 . This State Champ was 98 lb James Shaw! (James son, Luke Shaw, wrestled for the Kewpies 1994-1997.
He was a 3 time state placer.) The team itself finished in 10th place.
From 1971 to 1976 Coach Judy qualified 19 wrestlers for state, and 8 brought home a medal; 3 champions, 1-2nd, 2-3rd's,
and 2-5th's. The State Tournament was held in the Hearnes Center for its first time in 1975.
1977, Coach Ted Kozinski took the helm as head coach for 1 year. He took 3 wrestlers to state, with 1 earning a
3rd place medal.
In 1978, Dale Pleimann began his 14 years of being head Coach for the Hickman Kewpies. He managed to qualify 48
wrestlers to the state tournament in these 14 years, and have 18 of them place. He had 4 Champions,1-2nd
place, 3-3rd's, 4-4th's, 4-5th's, and 2-6th's. Coach Pleimann retired after the 1991 season. In 1991 senior Phil
Arnold ,171 lbs., became the first 2 time State Champion since 1934 when Ross Brown achieved the feat at 135 lbs. Dave
Daugherty 135 lbs, also was a 2 time state champ in 1931 and 1932.
Joe Paulsen came aboard as the head coach in 1992. He also served Hickman as the Senior Principal.
Coach Paulson coached the Kewpies from 1992 to 1995.
As a head coach he qualified 18 wrestlers to state, and placed 4 of them; 1 Champion, 1-3rd, 1-4th, and 1-6th place finish.
1994 Ken Mbah became a state champ for Hickman with a 40-0 undefeated season. Coach Paulsen stepped down as coach at
the end of the 1995 season. Coach Paulsen however did come back as an assistant coach in the years of 2002, 2003, and
2004.
In 1996 Mel Hughes was hired as the Hickman Head Coach. Coach Hughes coached from 1996-1998. He had 10 wrestlers
qualify for state in these 3 years, with 5 placing at State; 1- 2nd, 3-3rd's, 1-5th place. During his first year
as head coach he had a unpaid young man by the name of Nick Purler assist him in the practice room. (Nick Purler
is one of the top youth wrestling coaches in the country. He coaches wrestlers in the St. Louis area, Central and Southern
Missouri, along with Southern Illinois.)
In 1999 Doug Black was named the new head coach for Hickman High. Coach Black coached from 1999-2004. During
this time he had 23 state qualifiers, and 9 state placers;3 Champions,(one of which was a 2 time state champ - Brian Perry
160 lbs.),2-2nd's, 2- 3rds, 1-5th, and 1-6th place finish. Brian Perry was the 2nd 2X State Champ in the new Hickman
era. Brian Perry signed a NLI to wrestle for Stanford University in California in 2002. In 2003,Tony
Pescaglia, a 103 lb. Freshman was the first Freshman to place in the state tournament since Luke Shaw placed 4th at 103
lbs in 1994. Warren Daugherty also a Freshman in 1932 placed second at 115 lbs. Tony placed 6th in 2003. Doug Black
lead his 2003 team to a District Title.
In the 2004-2005 season a new coach was hired, and the Hickman Kewpies moved thier wrestling room to Stephens College
where they enjoyed a bigger and cleaner facility than thier previous facility under the bleachers of the Hickman football
bleachers. Coach J.D. Coffman lead the young Hickman team with the help of Joe Collier and Shane Griffen.
Coach Coffman had been an assistant coach under Coach Black since 2003. MSHAA formed 4 new classes in wrestling.
Hickman remained in the largest class which is Class 4. MSHAA also eliminated Sectionals with the new class system.
A super districts was declared in place of the previous districts and sectional tournaments. The top 4 from super districts
advanced to the State tournament.
Coffmans first year as head coach he qualified 3 wrestlers to the State Touranment. Brothers Tony and K.C.
Pescaglia took home medals. Tony became Hickmans 27th State Champion and K.C. took home a 4th place medal.
In the 2005-2006 season the Hickman Kewpies returned to the Stephen Campus for their practices under the lead of
Coach Coffman. Coffman had several assistants that year with Joe Collier returning and adding Coach Noie, Coach Gordan,
Mike Drackers, and Luke Shaw. The varsity had 3 brothers make the line up, Vince Pescaglia at 103, Tony Pescaglia at
119, and
K. C. Pescaglia at 125 lbs. This is the first time in the schools history that 3 brothers were on Varsity at the
same time. 2 other brothers, Ross Reynolds at 112 and Taylor Reynolds at 140 were on the varsity squad this year.
Coffmans team defeated the Helias Crusaders in their dual, the first time in the Hickman wrestling teams history.
The team finished 3rd in the Springfield Tournament and all 3 Pescaglia brothers were Champions. The brothers also
were champions at the HIckman tournament. This was the first time in the tournaments history that Hickman had
3 champions. Tony Pescaglia became the first wrestler in the tournaments history to become a 4 time Champion.
Coffman had 3 wrestlers qualifiy for the State Tournament and 2 wrestlers became champions. Tony Pescaglia was champion
at 119 lbs with a 51-1 (38 Pins) season- he became Hickmans 3rd 2X state Champ in the new era. K.C. Pescaglia was
champion at 125 lbs with a record fo 51-1 (37 Pins), becoming Hickmans 29th State Wrestling Champ. Tony Pescaglia ended
his wrestling career with 170 wins and 15 losses. He also had 112 Pins. This is a career win record and Pin record
for Hickman High School. Tony Pescaglia signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle on scholarship at the University of
Missouri.
In the 2006-2007 season the Kewpies must move back to Hickman because of Stephens college needing their space back for
classrooms. The wrestlers now must make the space in the commons of the high school their new wrestling room.
Each day after everyone leaves the school the wrestlers then carry the mats out, unroll them tape them, and clean them before
practice can begin.
The Kewpies are again led under direction of Head Coach J.D. Coffman, with assistance from Coach Dennis Noie, Coach Doug Gordan,
Coach Mike Drackert and Coach Amond Prater. K.C. Pescaglia returns as a senior this year with an early signing of his
National Letter of Intent to wrestle on scholarship at the University of Missouri. He will follow his brother Tony Pescaglia,
a freshman. who is on scholarship with the wrestling MU Tigers.
Hickman had a record year, winning 8 out of their 9 duals. Hickman had wins against powerhouse Hannibal this year.
They also beat Kirksville, Helias, Rockbridge, Sedalia, Moberly, Mexico and Truman. Their only loss came to Jeff City.
The Hickman tounament was a big success this year with Hickman taking home the 3rd place trophy. 4 Kewpies were crowned
Champs and 7 placed in the tournament. This was a record win for the Kewps at their own tournament. The Kewpies
also took home a 2nd place trophy at the Springfield tournament.
At superdistricts this year 5 Kewpies qualified for State: Vince Pescaglia 112 lbs, Jacob Thornton 119 lbs, K. C. Pescaglia
125 lbs, Jordan Lanham 140 lbs and Drae Cox 152 lbs. The Kewpies finished 9th in the team standings at State with Vince
Pescaglia and Drae Cox securing 4th place finishes and K. C. Pescaglia finishing as a Champion. K. C. Pescaglia becomes
the 30th state champ and the 4th 2 X State Champ for Hickman High School. K. C. Pescaglia finished his season undefeated
with a record of 37-0 with 29 falls. Pescaglia had only 6 points scored against him all year. He finished his
career at Hickman with a career record of 157-13 and 101 falls. A 2002 Hickman graduate and 2X state Champion wrestler,
Brian Perry, was named the captain of the Stanford University wrestling team. Brian Perry qualified to compete at the
Division 1 NCAA Championships in Michigan in 2007.
In 2007-2008 Hickman Kewpies move to another temporary wrestling room for the year at the old Wilsons in the Forum Shopping
Center - called Hickman South by the team. The school district has for the first time in its history provided
transportation for students from the junior high schools to Hickman High School, then to Hickman South. The
Kewpies are again led under direction of Head Coach J.D. Coffman, Coach Dennis Noie, Coach Doug Gordan, Coach Ben Smith,
and Coach C.K. Hoenes. Two state placers, Vince Pescaglia and Drae Cox, and one state qualifier, Jacob Thornton return
to wrestle for the Kewpies. This year was a year many injuries. The wrestles struggled in duals this year winning only
2. The district tournament qualified tow wrestlers for state. Vince Pescaglia was district champ and Drae Cox
was runner up. Jacob Thornton a state qualifier from last year was sidelined in December with a season ending knee injury.
Drae Cox was the sole state placer for Hickman, placing second to the same wrestler he lost to at Districts. These were
the only 2 loses Drae incurred all season. Vince Pescaglia competed only 1/2 the season due to a debilitating neck
injury. He was able to return for the Hickman tournament to compete. His record was 23-0 going into the state tournament.
He ended his season without placing at state with a record of 24-2. Drae Cox plans to continue wrestling at the
next level. He will wrestle for Lindenwood University in Missouri.
In 2008-2009 season the Kewpie Wrestlers must move again to a new location for practice. This season the room will
recide on the balcony over looking the swimming pool. The wrestlers from the junior highs will again be provided transportation
to the high school for practices by the school district. This year the middle schools are being given the opportunity
to have wrestling team. The students practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays after the high school practices. The coaching
staff for the middle school team are volunteers. The High School Wrestlers are again led under direction
of Head Coach J.D. Coffman, with assitance from Coach Doug Gordan, Coach Ben Smith, and Coach Tony Pescaglia.
Tony Mena and K. C. Pescaglia
volunteered. Vince Pescaglia was the only returning State qualifier for the season. The team had 3 brothers make the
varsity line up for part of the season: Terrell Shannon a senior, Will Owens
a freshman and Jeremiah Owens a sophomore. The team won only 2 duals this season but it wasn’t from lack of wrestlers. The Hickman team had a full line-up with a full JV line-up as well.
The team was made up mostly of new and inexperienced wrestlers. The Hickman team had only one qualifier to the
State Tournament. Vince Pescaglia secured a spot at the State Tournament
with a Championship at the Super-Districts. Vince Pescaglia ended
his season as a State Runner-up at the State Tournament and a had a season record of 46/3 with 30 falls . His career ended with a
record of 146/24 and 86 falls.
The 2009-2010
season is lead by Head Coach J.D. Coffman and his assistants Ben Smith, Doug Gordan and Tony Pescaglia.
Several
Alumni wresters volunteer their time as assistant coaches: Jordan Lanham, Vince Pescaglia, K. C. Pescaglia, Lawrence Warnock,
Drae Cox, Taylor Reynolds, and Jacob Thornton. Joey Garrity and Danny Hewitt
also volunteer their time as assistants. The wrestlers
are once again calling home on the balcony of the swimming pool at Hickman High School.
This year the team is very young. Many
of the JV wrestlers after putting in time in the summer at perfecting their wrestling are stepping up to take on a Varsity position. Two incoming Freshman, Alex Shea and J’den
Cox will make their debut in the Varsity line-up this year. Both are bringing
a wealth of wrestling experience with them, with a combination of 17 years between
the two of them. (J’den Cox is the youngest brother of both Zach Arnold and Drae Cox, and nephew of Phil Arnold–
Hickman High School Wrestling Alumni.) Two brothers Jeremiah and Will Owens will also suit up to wrestle on the varsity squad
this season. The Kewpies qualified 2 wrestlers for State in 2010 with J'den Cox a freshman at 171 and Will Owens a Sophomore
at 189 lbs. (Alex Shea, freshmanand Junior, Jeremiah Owens were one match from making it to the state tournament.) J'den
Cox was the only State Placer for Hickman. He was crowned State Champ! Cox is the only the 2nd wrestler from Hickman
to place as a freshman in the schools history.(Tony Pescaglia was the first to medal as a freshman with a 6th place finish
in 2003). J'den is the only Freshman in the schools history to be crowned a champion. He finished his freshman season
with a 54-3 record, breaking the previous record set by Tony and K.C. Pescaglia of 51 wins in 2006. J'den Cox wore headgear
all season that had once been worn by his Uncle Phil Arnold who was a 2X Champ for Hickman in the 1990's. The headgear
had been passed down to Zach Arnold (J'dens brother) in 2002-2005, then to Drae Cox (J'dens brother) in 2006-2008.
Drae Cox passed the headgear to his brother J'den before his first dual at Hickman High School. The headgear is
adorned with "State Champ 1990 on one ear piece and State Champ 1991 on the other. Phil Arnold had told each of his nephews
that when they won a title they could put their accomplishments next to his on the headgear. J'den had that pleasure
in 2010, two decades later. J'den has the possibility of adding 3 more years to that headgear and becoming
a 4X state champ.
