It's been a tough season for the Xavier wrestling team with only 16 guys on the squad, but Clint Lembeck and Josh Gerke keep plugging away and doing a good job for the Saints.

Lembeck and Gerke struck again Thursday with pins against the Jefferson J-Hawks, but the Saints had to forfeit four bouts and lost the Mississippi Valley Conference meet 51-21.

Lembeck, ranked No. 2 at 132 pounds, wrestled up a class and stuck Michael Handley at 138 in 1:39. Gerke, ranked No. 6 at 126 pounds, pinned Seth Jellison in 4:46.

Jeff Vipond collected a pin at 106 pounds for the Saints and Thomas Pudil won a 4-0 decision at 220, giving Xavier four victories in 10 actual bouts against a strong opponent.

"It's kind of the story of our season," said Xavier Coach Ryan Chambers. "We just don't have a lot of guys out. Out of the matches we have, we usually win a fairly high percentage of the matches, but we just need more numbers to get better."

Lembeck, who placed fourth at the state meet last year as a sophomore at 132 pounds, raised his record to 20-2 with 11 pins. He keeps moving forward, even with the team struggling as a whole.

"We don't have a whole lot of numbers, but I think that we have good experienced guys," he said. "I think we're wrestling really well with who we have. We just try to have everyone do their best in the wrestling room."

Gerke has taken the same approach.

"We don't have a lot of guys, but they all work really hard in the room," he remarked. "They're here to work hard to have fun."

Chambers said the Saints have good leaders, with Lembeck and Gerke among them. He also praised his assistant coaches for maintaining a positive environment.

"We go around every day and try to keep the morale up high," he said. "It's not their fault (for the low turnout). They're not responsible for

that. They're responsible for themselves. And they do a good job.

"They're laughing and smiling every day," he said. "As long as they have fun in the sport, that's the important part."

Members of the Xavier junior wrestling club were honored before the meet. Chambers said there are more than 60 young wrestlers in the program.

"We have a bright future," he said. "It's about being patient. That's not always easy."

Lembeck hopes to challenge for a state title this year. He's been battling the flu for several weeks, but plans to get back to 132 pounds next week and begin his push toward the postseason.

"I've always had my eyes on the prize since I was a freshman," he said. "The older I get, the better I get with more experience and I definitely feel like I have a better chance."

Gerke raised his record to 18-6 Thursday with 11 pins. He did not qualify for state last year as a freshman, but is working toward a trip to Des Moines next month.

"The goal is to place as high as I can," he said. "I definitely want to win districts and beat some good guys at state and get better experience."

Luke Sedlacek (160) and Nick Dreckman (170) collected pins for Jefferson. Kelly May (182) won a technical fall. Caleb Ziegenhorn (152) posted a major decision. Erik Hovey (195) and Dalton Kuehl (285) won regular decisions.

Brenden Baker (113), Joseph Sibomana (120), Kyle Briggs (132) and Matt Culver (145) won forfeits.

JEFFERSON 51, XAVIER 21

126 - Josh Gerke (X) pinned Seth Jellison, 4:46
132 - Kyle Brigs (J) won by forfeit
138 - Clint Lembeck (X) pinned Michael Handley, 1:39
145 - Matt Culver (J) won by forfeit
152 - Caleb Ziegenhorn (J) major dec. Brant Charipar, 11-1
160 - Luke Sedlacek (J) pinned Ryan Williams, 3:10
170 - Neck Dreckman (J) pinned Sam Lampe, 2:29
182 - Kelly May (J) tech fall Sam Meyers, 16-1
195 - Erik Hovey (J) dec. Alex Francois, 6-4
220 - Thomas Pudil (X) dec. David Bonner, 4-0
285 - Dalton Kuehl (J) def. Mike Maher, 2-1
106 - Jeff Vipond (X) pinned Zach Main, 3:25
113 - Brenden Baker (J) won by forfeit
120 - Joseph Sibomana (J) won by forfeit