Young Wildcat wrestlers continue to progress through busy early schedule

The young Wildcat wrestlers have been busy on the mat and had their third stand-alone dual of the season last Thursday, making the trip north to take on Big Seven League foe Sabetha.

It was a tightly contested match-up between the last two league champions, but the Blue Jays came out slightly ahead in the end for a 40-33 victory.

Even though the dual didn’t go the Wildcats’ way, HHS coach Cullen Jackson noted he saw a lot of positives in his team’s performance.

“I felt like our kids wrestled hard. The guys who have been there all along performed really well and our young kids who had to step into the line-up are competing and working their tails off,” Jackson said. “They’re gaining experience with every outing.”

At this point in the season, Jackson noted the key for the Wildcats is to be competitive in close matches in order to hone their technique and conditioning for further down the road.

While veterans like Justin Pool, Justin Rieschick and Tyler Price continue to go above and beyond, some young wrestlers are also starting to pick it up for Holton.

“I think Lawson Henry is doing a good job for us. We bumped him up a weight class and he went out and got a big win,” Jackson said.

Additionally, Jackson said Kaden Watkins showed a lot of grit and determination moving up a weight class to try and help his team, though the young Wildcat couldn’t quite turn that grit into points in the 182 lb. match.

Overall, the young wrestlers continue to fight. For the most part, the Wildcats have been undeterred by a few injuries and Jackson noted availability can sometimes be one of the most critical attributes a wrestler can bring to his team.

Another thing the HHS wrestlers have brought to each practice, dual and tournament is a great deal of excitement no matter the final results and Jackson noted he hopes that continues.

“I think the enthusiasm with which these guys approach every day is great. They’re excited to come and compete and be a part of our program. That’s a real positive right now,” Jackson said. “We need to build on that and continue to foster that enthusiasm and hopefully keep it throughout the end of the season.”

Holding onto that and continuing to build up the wrestlers’ technique and conditioning could be a winning formula for Holton in the postseason, but for now the team will take a break before returning to competition in 2016.

HHS @ Sabetha Dual

Team results:

Sabetha 40, Holton 33

Individual results:

(106):  Both teams were open.

(113):  Vernon Nellis (Sab.) had an open round.

(120):  Ryley Wisdom (Sab.) had an open round.

(126):  Seth Harrell (Sab.) won by major decision, 9-0, over Cael Jackson.

(132):  Brandon Brownlee (Sab.) won by fall over Ace Eisenbarth.

(138):  Lawson Henry won by decision, 5-3, over Corbin Halls (Sab.).

(145):  Justin Pool won by fall over Matthew Meyer (Sab.).

(152):  Justin Rieschick won by fall over Kamden Brownlee (Sab.).

(160):  Tyler Price won by fall over Matthew Burdick (Sab.).

(170):  Cauy Rokey (Sab.) won by fall over Jameson Lutz.

(182):  Brendan Rokey (Sab.) won by fall over Kaden Watkins.

(195):  Kyler Tannahill won by fall over Payton Strahm (Sab.).

(220):  Eugene Harris had an open round.

(285):  Elliot Strahm (Sab.) won by fall over Clay Baumgartner.

JV

(145):  Nate Niehues (Sab.) won by fall over Jayger Carson.

(152):  Cole Oehm (Sab.) won by fall over Killian O’Connor.

(160):  Jackson Martin won by fall over Brayden Becker (Sab.).

(170):  Grant Meyer (Sab.) won by fall over Damon Ruckman.

Dec. 10, 2015

SFT Double Dual

Team results:

Holton 48, Jeff West 21

Santa Fe Trail 54, Holton 24

Individual results:

vs. SFT

(106):  Bryce Isabell (SFT) had an open round.

(113):  Both teams were open.

(120):  Jose Paredes (SFT) had an open round.

(126):  Cael Jackson won by fall over Carter Greenfield (SFT).

(132):  Bryce Erickson (SFT) won by fall over Lawson Henry.

(138):  Justin Pool won by fall over Caleb Jeanneret (SFT).

(145):  Derrick Martinek (SFT) won by fall over Trasen Snavely.

(152):  Justin Rieschick won by fall over Colin Koger (SFT).

(160):  Tyler Price won by fall over Layne Watkins (SFT).

(170):  Cal Lyle (SFT) won by fall over Kaden Watkins.

(182):  Conner Ridgeway (SFT) had an open round.

(195):  Ethan Dean (SFT) won by fall over Kyler Tannahill.

(220):  Trent Moore (SFT) won by fall over Eugene Harris.

(285):  Jake Hastings (SFT) had an open round.

vs. JW

(106):  Shane Kelly (JW) had an open round.

(113):  Both teams were open.

(120):  Luke Holloman (JW) had an open round.

(126):  Cael Jackson won by fall over Austin Michaelis (JW).

(132):  Brandon Challahan (JW) won 10-8 in sudden victory over Lawson Henry.

(138):  Justin Pool had an open round.

(145):  Jayger Carson won by decision, 2-0, over Caden Hansen (JW).

(152):  Jameson Lutz won by fall over Cahl Bohannon (JW).

(160):  Justin Rieschick won by fall over Nathan Taylor.

(170):  Tyler Price won by decision, 7-0, over Nick Reeb (JW).

(182):  Chase Montgomery (JW) had an open round.

(195):  Drew Morris had an open round.

(220):  Kyler Tannahill won by fall over Ryely Seals (JW).

(285):  Clay Baumgartner had an open round.