West Plains boys wrestling expects has 20 on the roster entering the season.
The returners include Eli Ryan (sophomore 138), Chris Goodwin (junior 285), Chance Bradfute (junior 175), Trevor Dickson (sophomore 190) and Tristan Powell (sophomore 126).
William Colvin joins the team for his sophomore season after going 35-10 last season wrestling for a school in New York. He will be at 144 pounds. Freshman Gideon Biring will be at 120 pounds. He was a state qualifier at the youth level.
Head coach Austin Reece thinks Colvin could make history for the program.
“William Colvin has a lot of skill,” Reece said. “We are thinking he might be the first state qualifier for the history of the boys program.”
The West Plains boys open the season on Dec. 2 with an assembly dual at the Civic Center.
“We have some talented wrestlers and all of our kids are hard workers,” Reece said. “We would like to fill all of the weight classes and get a few wrestlers to the state tournament.”
GIRLS TEAM
The West Plains girls wrestling team opens the season with nine on the roster.
“Right now, we have nine wrestlers, and we’re hopeful we’ll add a few more as the season goes on,” West Plains girls coach Lianna Ward said. “Our numbers may be small, but the heart, effort, and willingness to grow in this group are incredibly strong.”
Edie Hart (sophomore 100), Ashley Nix (junior 150) and Izzy Smith (junior 170) return.
Ward on Hart: “This is Edie’s second year of wrestling, and she is full of drive and tenacity like no other. She constantly looks for ways to improve her craft, embraces every challenge, and is always willing to try something new with a good attitude.”
Ward on Nix: “Ashley is entering her second year of wrestling as well. She is one of the hardest-working athletes I’ve ever coached, she does everything asked of her and does it with a joyful spirit. She has grit and determination that simply will not be stopped.”
Ward on Smith: “This will be Izzy’s third year in the program, and she is truly one of the kindest-hearted students I’ve worked with. She’s eager to learn, unafraid of hard work, and always brings positivity into the room with her smile and mindset.”
The leadership from Nix and Smith has stood out.
“Ashley, and Izzy, will be the leaders in our room this year,” Ward said. “Their leadership doesn’t come from being varsity or experienced; it comes from the way they show up every day. They lead through consistency, encouragement, work ethic, and the willingness to grow. They model what we want our culture to be: athletes who lead with love, compete with faith, and serve their teammates with humility.”
Teagan Clem is a freshman who is looking to make an immediate impact on varsity.
“I see Teagan Clem making a strong push for the 125-pound varsity spot,” Ward said. “She is a freshman who has grown tremendously from her very first practice to where she is now. In just a few short weeks, she has shown a willingness to learn, adapt, and work, qualities that will make her a dangerous competitor. I can’t wait to see what she does this season.”
Freshman Aria Jacobs has also made an immediate impression on the team.
“So far, Aria Jacobs has made one of the biggest impacts,” Ward said. “She’s a freshman who brings a contagious energy into the room; she’s spunky, full of laughter, and always knows how to lift the mood. Beyond that, she works hard, absorbs instruction, and shows real potential. She’s already making waves in practice, and I’m excited to see how her personality and effort impact our team this season.”
The roster may be small, but it is tight-knit.
“Our greatest strength is how well our wrestlers fit together, like puzzle pieces that form something stronger than the individual parts,” Ward said. “Each athlete brings a unique strength, and those strengths complement each other. Whether it’s leadership, grit, positivity, or teachability, everyone contributes to building a united, resilient, and purpose-driven team. When challenges come, and they will, we’ll face them together, lifting each other up.”
West Plains opened the season at the Affton Girls Invitational on Nov. 22. They will host their Assembly meet on Dec. 2 with St. James, Aurora and Springfield Central.
“To me, success is already happening,” Ward said. “Every day, these athletes show up ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to support each other. When they leave practice with smiles, when they are safe, healthy, and having fun; that’s what determines success for our program. Wins will come, but our focus is on building young people who live with purpose, compete with heart, and grow through every challenge.”
