By Kary Booher
It’d be all too easy to miscast this season’s Monett Cubs wrestling teams, if by looking only at last year’s finish. After all, the tradition-rich program finished ninth in the Class 2 state tournament.
But most folks know not to sleep on Monett, and they certainly won’t after hearing what longtime coach Daryl Bradley has to say.
“I haven’t been this excited about a team in awhile,” Bradley said. “We’ve got young kids. We’ve got numbers and they’re going to be good. We have experience, too. A top-4 finish has to be in the discussion. Ten qualifiers isn’t out of the question.”
Bradley has enjoyed tremendous success in his 16 prior seasons, as Monett won the Class 2 state championship in 2008, with runner-up finishes in 2004, 2006 and 2009 and a has slew of district championship to its name, too.
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This year’s team features three returning state medalists and three other state qualifiers, as well as two whose seasons fell only one win short of a state berth. Plus, the USA Kids Wrestling program continues to supply talent, with a few freshmen in the mix for starting roles, too.
Start with junior Joel Barrientos, now at 120 after placing fourth and sixth in each of the past two seasons in the 106-pound weight class. Last season, he rallied through the consolation side of the bracket, following an overtime loss in a quarterfinal against Smithville’s Black Ackerman, the eventual state champion.
Senior Aaron Howard is at 138 after placing fifth at 126, and senior Ian Meyer is at 195 after placing fifth at 182. Angel Rabdon at 126 also qualified last season, while senior Brody Crawford is at 145 and Desmond Hill at 160 after reaching district tournament bubble matches last season.
“Howard kind of came out of nowhere last year,” Bradley said. “He started beating some ranked kids, and it carried into the state tournament. The sky is the limit.”
The rest of the projected lineup features freshman Joey Semerad at 106, freshmen Karter Brink and freshman Jace Stowe at 113, sophomore Peyton Hatfield at 126, freshman Gunnar Bradley and junior Jason Ehrhardt at 132, sophomore Aaron Hoyt at 145, and four candidates at 152 – sophomores Josh Bahl, Jordan Withnell, junior Cody Thompson and freshman Cye Bouchard.
Brink was a state placer in USA Kids Wrestling, where Gunnar Bradley was a multi-time state placer, and then turned in an encouraging summer in camps.
“That let us know he needed to improve on his strength and especially at the high school level at 132,” Coach Bradley said. “It’s a different world.”
The upper weights include five at 160 – junior Desmond Hill and sophomores Kellar McCully, Adam Card, Luke Allock and freshman Logan Umfleet. Meanwhile, sophomores Francisco Reed, Kelly McCully and Adam Card will compete at 170, while freshman Wesley Merriman, senior Travis Wentz and junior Alonso Rueda are at 182. Trevor Prewitt, a junior, is at heavyweight.
However, 220-pound senior Angel Villalta suffered a knee injury during football season and appears doubtful to return by the end of the wrestling season.
So, can Monett send at least 10 of its 14 wrestlers to state?
“I think this team can do it,” Bradley said. “Expectations are high when they set foot on that mat. They’re going to put a good day’s work in. And that’s our goal.”
