2019-20 Winter Preview: Joplin Wrestling

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By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

When Jeremy Finley took over as Joplin’s wrestling coach in 2018 he knew he’d have a large group of seniors to rely on in year one.

And he knew he was facing a rebuilding season in year two.

“This coming year we’re going to ride the sophomores we’ve got and incoming freshman class,” Finley said. “We’re going to really look for them in the future, not necessarily this year but in the years to come they’re going to really help us when they’re seniors and juniors. I think we’ll be okay in the future. We may take our lumps a little bit this year but we’ll be alright in the coming years.”

Finley coached at Carl Junction from 2009 to 2015 before stepping away from coaching. In his first year back he had Joplin seniors like three-time state qualifier Jaydin Withrow, two-time medalist Jacob Booe and Brayden Williams, another qualifier.

After finishing 11th in the Class 4 District 3 tournament last season the Eagles return about half their starting lineup but have just one senior and no returning state qualifiers.

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There are at least five sophomores on the roster who had varsity time last year. Rocky Walker wrestled at 106, Jack Stanley was at 126, Erin Sneed was at 152, Brayden Thomas was at 160 and Aiden Short was at 170.

Juniors Reese Macios (106) and Josiah Vaughn (113) were also varsity wrestlers.

“We’re definitely going to have to have them step up this year,” Finley said. “With hardly having any seniors and being so young, I’m looking to Josiah Vaughn who didn’t miss a single summer workout this summer. I expect him to be a good starter for us, a good team leader. He does the right things on and off the wrestling mat. He’s a good student and our younger kids can look to him to help lead the way I hope.”

“I think Rocky Walker can turn some heads for us this year,” Finley said. “He only missed one day of summer wrestling and weights. He can turn some heads. Brayden Thomas won’t be eligible till second semester but he’ll be able to do some good things for us too.”

The team’s lone senior will be Caleb Winder, who moved to Joplin from Delaware. He wrestled at 160 pounds.

“I think he can help us tremendously,” Finley said.

The rest of the roster will be filled primarily with freshmen.

“I know we’ve got a lot of freshmen coming in,” Finley said. “I don’t know how much experience they have but as the year goes on we’ll obviously get better and that’s what we’re looking to do because we’ve got to get better.”

The schedule will be tough, especially in the first semester, with matches against Webb City, Carl Junction, Neosho and Carthage and action in the Claremore, Oklahoma tournament in December.

“Southwest Missouri is probably one of the toughest areas in the state for wrestling,” Finley said. “We see a lot of the surrounding schools and that’s always good for us. We’re just going to be young and we’re looking forward to getting the season going.”

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