By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Hollister has the luxury of having 16 returnees who posted at least one-win last season and the Tigers feature quality, as well.
They welcome back a proven winning trio of Bryson Whitman, Carter Whitman and Cole Escobar.
Bryson Whitman was 49-3 and a district champ at 157 last season, while Carter Whitman was 36-15 and a district runner-up at 106 and Cole Escobar was 28-15 and a district runner-up at 138.
Bryson Whitman has already medaled at state twice.
The Tigers’ leaders also include Ryan Southern, who was 16-25 last season, Si Gammon, who was 14-20 at 126, Kaiden Taylor, who was 18-25 at 175 and Ezekiel Norris, who was 13-29 at 285.
Other returnees are Eli Barber, Conner Anderson, Titan Kepford, Gannon Ingersoll, Xander Shofner, Grant Ray, Christian Romo Luevano, Kaiden Taylor, Draeson Williams and Johan Miranda.
“My expectation for my returnees is that they continue to show me their willingness to want to improve and to be coachable,” Nicholson said. ”With the group of athletes I have, most of them have been with the program for a while now and give me everything they have when they step out on the mat.”
Newcomers are freshman Liam Tanner (126) and Issac Orozco (175).
“Liam is an experienced wrestler who moved to Hollister from Colorado,” Nicholson said. “Issac is fairly new to wrestling but is a strong multi-sport athlete who has natural abilities. Their expectations will be to compete and add strength and depth to our lineup.”
On the girls side, the Lady Tigers welcome back Amya Haley at 110.
