El Dorado Springs wrestling has something entering this season that the program has never had before: a defending state champion.

Emory Crawford won the Class 1 150-pound state title as a sophomore with a 47-6 overall record.

The championship has brought many positives not just to Crawford, but the program as a whole.

“His championship has made it an attainable goal for everyone in the program. It is there for anyone who wants to work and improve their skills,” El Dorado Springs head coach Bill Gray said. “It also brought exposure for the program to the community. I do not know how many times since he won that the coaches have been stopped by someone to congratulate us on the championship, asked how to get their kids into wrestling or how people can help with the program. We had a big bond issue for the school last spring and one of the driving forces behind it was a wrestling room for the middle and high school programs along with the youth programs all having access and it passed giving us an improved practice area.”

As for Crawford, his mindset remains unchanged coming off the state title.

“He has always been a confident young man,” Gray said. “He always felt like he was the hunter, but at the same time hunted because of his skill and confidence. He will have a bigger bullseye on his back this season, but it will be something he enjoys, and I think he will excel because of it.”

Crawford, who played football this fall, could wrestle anywhere from 144 to 165 pounds this winter.

Junior Shane Fletcher returns after qualifying for state at 132 pounds. He will be back in the 132-138 pound range. Fletcher’s senior brother Sylas returns at 113 pounds.

“The Fletcher boys both spent time at camp this summer and have had a great year in cross country,” Gray said. “Sylas finished All-State in Class 2, and Shane would have had it not been for an injury at districts which we are still dealing with during the preseason. Shane was a state qualifier last season. Sylas has been to the bubble match the last two seasons, and he is super focused on making it this year. “

Brogan Crawford returns to wrestle at 165 or 175 pounds in his sophomore season.

“Brogan grew four or five inches and 30 pounds during the offseason,” Gray said. “He still has all the flexibility and wrestling knowledge we just have to figure where he wants to wrestle and attack it.”

Freshmen Ryker Kutina (106), Kellen Edwards (126-132), Koy Eck (138-144) and Jordan Runkle (285) along with sophomore Nolan Moore (144) will be newcomers.

“We will be young, but I think we will compete throughout the lineup,” Gray said. “They are putting in the work to be in shape and growing wrestling knowledge every day.”

The El Dorado Springs boys open the season on Dec. 11 with a quad at Bolivar featuring Nevada, Bolivar and Osage.

“If we are going to be ‘materialistic’ we need to take our three upperclassmen to state, and then have 1-2 underclassmen sneak through or even wrestle bubble matches,” Gray said of the team’s goals. “If we want the program to grow, we need growth every time we take the mat. I need to see maturity in skill, desire, and as young men every time they walk off the mat and then the Ws and Ls will take care of themselves.”

GIRLS TEAM

The El Dorado Springs girls wrestling team will be led by upperclassmen.

“Our upperclassmen will lead this team,” Gray said. Three of the five have been to state, and the other two were a match away last year. The work they put in during the offseason and attending camps should make them contenders again this year.”

Leading the returners is senior Aleah Conrad. Conrad is a two-time third-place finisher and three-time qualifier. She will be at 105 or 110 pounds. Emma Corbin, also a senior, qualified for state at 235 pounds and returns at the same weight. Junior Haylee Esparza qualified for state at 145 pounds two seasons ago. Gray expects her to be at 145 once again.

Senior Lily Corbin (170-190), junior Kayla Nelson (125-135) and Serenity Witt (100-105 also return.

“All six of our returners have put in the work during the offseason to make a push,” Gray said. “Conard, Nelson and Witt attended camp this summer and were very active in the weight room. Esparza and the Corbins have been very active in the weight room improving several of their personnel strength records throughout the fall.”

Freshmen Kami Moore and Layla Helm are both looking to make immediate varsity impacts.

“Kami Moore has been a highlight throughout her middle school career and we expect big things out of her at 120,” Gray said. “Layla Helm is a hard worker and beginning to show improvement from her middle school career. I am looking forward to what both of them provide the roster.”

The roster will be small, but Gray expects the team to be a contender in tournaments.

“We will probably be more of a tournament team,” Gray said. “With such a small roster, we will fill only eight maybe nine weights, but the weights we fill we should be pretty tough in. I expect our upperclassmen to score a lot of bonus points and our underclassmen to be in matches late so anything can happen.”

The El Dorado Springs girls open the season on Dec. 1 at the Butler Scramble.

“We want to contend for a district plaque,” Gray said. “We may be small in numbers but really feel confident that we can score points in bunches and have put an emphasis on scoring bonus points throughout a dual or tournament.”