Wrestling

With the wrestling team ending the year last year at third place during, state they are ready to come back better than ever.

“This year we have some great guys coming in and a new coach that will help us do good,” junior Daron Island-Jones said.

The wrestling team lost some key components last year, including last year’s senior Jalin Harper, who got second individually in his weight class. Keeping that in mind the boys are ready to put up a fight and keep the tradition of placing at state going.

“we have some great guys coming in and a new coach that will help us do good so i think we can win state,” Island-Jones said.

Some returning players include senior Bubba Wilson, senior Jacob Mitchell, junior Tate Sauder, senior Christian Schlep, junior Darius Island-Jones, senior Quincy Saddler and junior Daron Island-Jones. On top of that, they’re led by coach Robert Gonzales, who has been coaching here for 14 years. Coaching along Gonzales is coach Shawn Bammes and Danny Grater.

“Coach Gonzales and Bammes have been our coach for years, we worked with coach Grater in the summer and he will help us compete,” Sauder said.

The team has been doing lots together to build chemistry and prep for the upcoming year. They attended team camps all summer long and had practices three to four days a week.

“…We are really focused on the team doing well,” Sauder said. “My motto is: [To do] whatever is takes.”

It’s shown that the boys are doing whatever it takes to get back to state even with obstacles in their way. There are a couple tough teams they are scheduled to place. This including, teams from Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas.

The team also has two home varsity tournaments this year in their schedule. Dec. 6 is their senior night and Dec. 8th is their dual tournament.

“ I just love working hard and having my hand raised at the end of the match,” Island-Jones said. “…We would love to see your guys support [this season].”