By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Three years ago, coach Chris Taylor and his dad, coach Dan Taylor, launched the new wrestling program at West Plains High School.
Fortunately, the interest keeps building in the hallways and the youth club, which two years ago hosted a late-season tournament that gave area programs a nice tune-up ahead of the youth postseason.
“Last year, we took a step forward,” said Chris Taylor, now in his first season as the head coach following his dad’s retirement. “We had four boys qualify for sectionals but did not get anyone to state. We are still trying to develop a wrestling program and culture in West Plains.”
Still, that’s a positive for a varsity program that faces challenges like all of the other sports in the athletic department, with travel always a burden. Most similar-sized schools are at least a two-hour drive away.
And, given that wrestling is one of the most challenging sports to compete in, Taylor has managed to keep wrestlers in the room.
Projected roster
The Zizzers likely will have about 30 wrestlers once the season gets under way. That includes nine who had varsity time last season.
The projected roster could be freshman Caleb Stone at 106 pounds, followed by freshman Colten McGuire (120), senior Levi Rand and junior Ridge Smith (126), seniors Brodie Callahan and J.D. Sydow (132), junior Keegan Alcorn and senior Jack Hathcock (138) and junior Josh Ingram and sophomore Kyler Kurran (145).
In the upper weights, look for Joah Jones and sophomore George Fisher at 152, followed by junior Blake Tinsley (160), senior Jed Collins and sophomore Cooper Darnell (182), senior Trenton Clark (195), junior Logan Sitzes (220) and senior Brendan Marks (285).
Rand is one of the most interesting storylines. He qualified for the state tournament as a freshman at 113 pounds for Versailles. However, he was only eligible to wrestle junior varsity as a sophomore after moving to West Plains, and then did not wrestle last year during the pandemic.
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“Still, he is one of the best wrestlers in the room,” Taylor said.
McGuire has four years of youth wrestling experience and seems poised to compete well at the varsity level. Callaghan is a cross country runner who has applied for the United States Naval Academy. Jones hit the weight room hard this offseason and “looks like a specimen,” Taylor said.
“(Ingram) is one of the hardest workers in my room,” Taylor said. “I think Josh is poised for a breakthrough this year.”
And then there is Marks.
“Honestly, this young man is the hardest worker in the room,” Taylor said. “He never complains and will finally have the heavy varsity spot. This young man has come a long way. I look forward to seeing how he will compete this year.”
Sleepers?
Sitzes wrestled at 220 as a freshman and then heavyweight last year.
“Logan is a gifted wrestler,” Taylor said. “He came in heavy from football last year and never could get to 220. He struggled a bit up a weight class. He has already made it a point this year to work harder during football to be ready for 220. He should have a great year at 220 with his new-found resolve.”
Goals
Taylor challenges his wrestlers in practice, but he also knows to celebrate any success. The goal is to send at least one wrestler to the state tournament this year.
“We have to take our successes where we can get them,” Taylor said. “We had some good dual wins last year and got four boys through districts to sectionals. Those were very good motivators for our young team. Now it is time to take the next step. Our kids continue to show up and work hard. They are hungry to see our program grow and have success.”
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Girls wrestling
The projected roster could be freshman Hailey Boucher (103), freshman Maddison Melvin (107), sophomore Ariana Richardson, junior Rayven Davis or Kyia Weisbrod (117), senior Natalie Stewart (122), junior Lllian Ingram (138), senior Lianna Ward (132) and senior Jade Martin and sophomore Gabby Voshell and freshman Malia West (142).
Other weights could see freshman Nakisha Davis (152), senior Emmy Howell (151), senior Brynn Watson and sophomore Zoe Foster (159), junior Maddison Easter (174), junior Akasha Davis (195) and sophomore Miranda Smith (235).
“Our girls team is going to have a great season,” Taylor said. “Last year we had six girls qualify for sectionals, four wrestled for third but all came up short. This year, we will break through and get several to state. We have great leadership on the girls team. Jade Martin, Lianna Ward and Kyia Weisbrod are the captains.”
Martin is the team leader, he said.
“She has a shot at 100 wins this year after going over 30 wins her first two seasons,” Taylor said. “She is looking to be a state qualifier this year and I fully expect that to happen after all the work she put in over the summer. She has been talking to several schools but hasn’t decided where she wants to wrestle yet. “
Stewart was 38-7 last year.
“She also has a shot to hit 100 wins,” Taylor said. “She has goals of medaling at state which is not out of reach if she keeps her mind right. She has visited several schools. She has not decided yet where she will wrestle.”
