Wrestling coach predicts winning record, state qualifiers

OXFORD — The high school wrestling team is moving in the right direction. This year the number of wrestlers on the team is at a four-year high.

We have a lot of freshmen that have moved up from the middle school to boost our numbers, and we only had one senior graduate last year.

Jake Hall, Justin Cummings, and Dustin Edwards are back this year as returning varsity and represent us as team captains.

Jon Hankey and Ena Farrar, also returning varsity, should have a productive year.

Promising freshman include Cordell Brooks, Brandon Gullicksen, John Higgins, Malik Geiger, Zach Little, and Creighton Mederios. They were part of the league runner-up team at the middle school level coached by Brad Demers. This is a young group but bring some experience to the mat.

This should be a turnaround year. Most of our varsity team has come back. With the addition of the quality freshmen class and new wrestlers Neiko Guzman and Bill Leahy, the season is looking up.

One key loss that we have suffered is Josh Little as he is unable to wrestle due to a knee injury.

My prediction is to finish in the top half of the KVAC and East Region. I do believe we will qualify wrestlers to complete in the state tournament this year.

Coaching staff is Head Coach, Tony Stevens, and Assistant Coach, Shawn Dexter. We have been coaching together for the past 6 years. With all these pieces together, it should be an exciting and rewarding year.