<span class="subhead">MISSOURI DISTRICT WRESTLING: Five things to watch</p><p></span>Wrestlers in Missouri will compete Saturday in district tournaments, where state qualifiers in four classes will be determined.</p><p> <span class="bold">The favorite</span></p><p> You want dominance? Blue Springs has positioned itself as the class of Class 4. After winning the state title last year, the Wildcats are back with a loaded lineup. And they&#x2019;ll hit the road, traveling to the District 3 meet in Jefferson City, as they try to set up for a repeat title. Darick Lapaglia, who won the state title at 130 pounds last year, is a handful at 138 pounds, while sophomore Daniel Lewis, a reigning state champ at 103, moved up to 126 pounds this year. There&#x2019;s also a defending champ, Greg Hegarty, wrestling at 145 pounds. Add in Michael Pixley (160), Chris Lattner (170) and Austin Reyes (220), and the Wildcats&#x2019; chances for another title appear solid. But they must emerge healthy and intact this weekend. </p><p> <span class="bold">The challenger</span></p><p> Can you really call perennial power Park Hill a challenger? That&#x2019;s what Park Hill coach Bill Erneste says. The Trojans have some serious talent at the top of the lineup: Freshman Ke-Shawn Hayes (106) is 40-3 and hasn&#x2019;t lost to anyone from Missouri. Sophomore John Erneste is 37-6, freshman Colston DiBlasi (126) is 23-3 with a signature victory over Blue Springs&#x2019; Lewis. Meanwhile, Russell Coleman could be a factor at 132 after finishing as state runner-up at 130. Good news: Park Hill, slotted in the district meet at Ray-Pec won&#x2019;t have to deal with Blue Springs this weekend. &#x201C;We know you can lose the state tournament at the district meet,&#x201D; Bill Erneste said, &#x201C;But we know you can&#x2019;t win it.&#x201D;</p><p> <span class="bold">3. The rising power</span></p><p>Staley doesn&#x2019;t have the rich wrestling tradition of Blue Springs or Park Hill, but the Falcons may have the right mix to be considered the favorite in Class 3. Start with Trevor Engle, who is 39-6 and will compete at 160 pounds after finishing as state runner-up at 125 last year. The Falcons, who will be host of the District 4 meet, will also lean on Aaron Engle (152), Tommy Elsrode (170) and sophomore Bailey Sutko, who Staley coach Gary Mayabb says was the only freshman above 152 pounds to make the state tourney in Class 3 last year. Last but not least is junior Trent Hosick, who is unbeaten at 22-0 and will compete at heavyweight after quarterbacking the football team to a state title in the fall. </p><p> <span class="bold">4. The crossover stars</span></p><p>Staley&#x2019;s Hosick isn&#x2019;t the only gridiron star leaving a trail of carnage on the mat. Lee&#x2019;s Summit West&#x2019;s Evan Boehm is already signed and sealed to play on the offensive line at Missouri, but he&#x2019;s spending one final year cutting weight and controlling the Class 4 heavyweight division. And then there&#x2019;s Harrisonville&#x2019;s Travis Britz, a Kansas State-bound defensive lineman who doubles as a heavyweight contender in Class 2. Boehm, who will take part in the district meet at Ray-Pec, is the defending Class 4 heavyweight champ. That&#x2019;s what Britz wants. He finished fourth in Class 2 last year and will begin his quest at the District 3 site in Clinton.</p><p> <span class="bold">5. The field</span></p><p>Oak Park sophomore Noah Teaney, the defending Class 3 state champ at 103, and Hashem Omari, the runner-up at 215, is likely to cruise to state. The same goes for Kearney junior Jaret Singh at 113. But the pressure will be on the Northmen and Bulldogs to match Staley in Class 3 state qualifiers. Meanwhile, Blue Springs South&#x2019;s Austin Eads (152) will carry the torch for the Jaguars, while Oak Grove, the defending Class 2 state champ, will be led by Chase Wrisinger and Anthony Barker as it begins the postseason at the District 4 Excelsior Springs site.