Coming off a successful season that almost included a State Title, the Manhattan High School wrestling team comes back this season with 10 returning starters that are determined to beat the odds this year and win the coveted state title.

“We have one goal and that one goal is to win State championship. And everything else will fall under the place, if we win a state championship then the regional title will fall the league title will fall, individual titles will follow. From the 66th person to the number one person on the program, we have to be on the same page,” head wrestling coach Robert Gonzalez said.       

The last time Coach Gonzales and the Indians won a State title was in 2012.

“This year’s team although young, we have more returning starters with wrestling experience, I think that’s important. We have ten returning starters and they’ll all be able to filter to the weight classes of the fourteen weight classes that they want. We also have great depth and a great Junior class.”

Only four starters did not come back from last year’s team.

“I’m excited and happy about our team, ecstatic,” Gonzales said. “They’ve been wonderful to work with. The freshman are interesting, they have to become accustomed to practicing with the Varsity, but that’s how you learn in Wrestling. We have 65 boys and 1 girl out. “

There are a total of 66 wrestlers on the team, including freshman Adrian Gift who is the only female wrestler on the team. Among the returning starters are senior Blake Wewer, juniors Joe Braun, Zephry Killham, Devin Norris, Mason Wallace and Eldon Picou.

“We’re getting a bunch of guys back, so we’re going a lot of Varsity experience,” Picou said.

He finished sixth at State last year.

“It helps that we have 15 lettermen back and so the leadership from the 10 starters and the 15 lettermen has been great,” Gonzalez said.

The Indians have their first meet December 3rd against Washburn Rural.

“The KWCA (The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association), so they do a ranking and it’s all pre-season and it’s hype and the people who are excited about it are the moms and dads and the wrestling fans. Coaches they look at that and say ‘well I don’t want to be ranked that high now everyone is going to be trying to beat us’ and other coaches might say “We got no respect they didn’t rank us” so they’ll tell their team certain things but it’s all part of coaching,” Gonzalez said.

The Indians are ranked third and Washburn is ranked 10th.

“I’m very proud to coach here and I’m very proud of what our kids do and I try to keep the tradition going of what Mr. Woodford built you know 30 years ago here at Manhattan High,” Gonzalez said.

The Indians start their season against Washburn Rural.