The Cardinals wrestling teams are looking to send more wrestlers to the state tournament this year after four members qualified last season.
The four who qualified were senior Jordan Dempsey, junior Maddy Arnold and sophomores Braedon Speer and Hawken Andrews. All are returning to the team this season.
Head coach Miles Cleveland said he has high expectations for the teams as they will try to build off what those four accomplished last season.
“We had some kids that were on the bubble at the regional tournament last season that I feel like we should have pushed through to the state tournament, but we will this year,” Cleveland said. “I have pretty high expectations for both teams, and I’m excited for both.”
On the girls side, Cleveland said he would like to see at least six wrestlers go to state after much of the team was so close to making it last season.
After being one of those girls on the cusp, senior Kyleigh Musick said she is coming into this season with a chip on her shoulder.
“I’m coming out for revenge. It is happening. I really want to make it to state this year,” Musick said. “I came up short last year, so I’m hoping I can place at regionals, get to state, maybe place if I can. But that’s really my biggest goal.”
Musick said she has been working on getting her strength back up and perfecting her technique to catch the girls who caught her last year.
Musick said the energy around the team has been great so far as they prepare for the start of the season.
“It looks like we’re coming out with more fire from last year. A lot of us came up short during regionals. So, I’m looking for fire in the room, and it’s been exciting,” Musick said.
Senior Harper Andrews said she is excited to get going this season after missing much of last year due to injury.
Andrews said she thinks more girls can make it to state if the team relaxes a little bit during their matches.
“I think what the main problem was, they get in their head a lot, and then we make little mistakes,” Andrews said. “So, working on those will definitely be crucial to putting some more people into the state tournament.”
On the boys side, Cleveland said the team is young with a lot of freshmen and sophomores making up this year’s squad.
Members of the boys team have their goals set high this year. Senior Nate Reazin said the team has a goal to win at least five duals and send four members to state to double what they did last year.
Reazin said he is excited by the makeup of this year’s team and with how the coaches are going to run practice this season.
“I think we have a lot of good athletes on our team this year,” Reazin said. “I think the way we’re going to practice is going to be a little bit different from last year, and hopefully that will affect us in a positive way. We’re going to change the way we drill a little bit. A little bit more intensity when we drill, and focus more on reps. Just kind of getting that muscle memory with each move.”
Reazin said it’s a crazy feeling to be heading into his senior season.
“I’m excited, but at the same time, it kind of went by quicker than I thought it would. It didn’t really feel like it when it was happening, but it goes by quick,” he said.
Senior Max Mitchell said he is also excited to be entering his senior season and has enjoyed becoming one of the leaders on the team.
“Finally getting to be in a leadership role it’s kind of nice, and just seeing everybody else develop around me,” Mitchell said.
The team’s first dual of the season is against Santa Fe Trail High School. Cleveland said he can’t wait to see how the Cardinals step up against a tough opponent to start the season.
“Santa Fe Trail has a great program and has for years. It’s going to be tough, but I am excited to see how these guys kind of answer the challenge,” Cleveland said. “We have some freshmen that are going to get their first high school matches ever. So, I’m excited to see how they react, what their nerves are like on and off the mat. We’re going to learn a lot about where we are as a team.”
The Cardinals will take on the Chargers at Santa Fe Trail High School at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].
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