By Kary Booher
When Lucas Smith joined the staff of Waynesville High School’s wrestling program a dozen years ago, it was at the height of the Iraq War, which had a profound effect on families at nearby Fort Leonard Wood.
Since then, Smith has learned how to navigate through the ups and downs of seeing families move away, some with wrestlers in tow. Sometimes, a guy who had been in the youth program for six years would be gone by Christmas, or a new wrestler would move in from out of state.
“There’s a lot of different paths you take. In the room, we tell them that wrestling teaches you different challenges, whether you are going to be a college wrestler, a college student or going into the military,” said Smith, now in his third year as head coach. “Learning to accept that challenge at this point in your life will help you later in life.”
A new challenge awaits this year’s Waynesville Tigers, who graduated nine seniors from last year’s team – including three state qualifiers, among them state runner-up Todd Angel and Hawk four-time qualifier and two-time medalist David Hawk.
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Still, Waynesville could be competitive again a year after finishing 11th in Class 4.
Returning state qualifiers are junior Sean Sax (120), sophomore Chance Carmack (126), senior Teyler Bruch (132), sophomore Michael Cassidy at 138 and Peter Lucitt at 152.
A number of freshmen also should compete for varsity time after gaining experience through Waynesville’s youth and middle school programs.
“We look pretty young on paper, but there’s quite a bit of experience once we get out there and get wrestling,” Smith said.
Sean Sax is a two-time Ozark Conference champion, a two-time state qualifier and placed fourth last season. He also was named the OC Wrestler of the Year.
“I think he’s just going to keep building on everything he’s done,” Smith said.
Burch could do some damage this year after battling some injuries before last year’s breakout season, a 23-win season. He fell short of qualifying for state in each of the past two years, by one win.
“He’s kind of buckled down and did a lot of good stuff,” Smith said.
Mario Powers, a freshman who could see time at 160 and 170, was a double All-American over the summer in competing in the school-boy division of the Junior Nationals. Several other wrestlers competed in the offseason, too, giving Smith reason to be even more optimistic.
The projected lineup includes freshman transfer Thomas Brady at 106 and then, from 113 to 120 and 126, Sax, freshman Gavin Sax, junior Aiden Brady, Carmack and freshman Aaron McDaniel.
Look for sophomore Daniel Albrecht and Matthew Nels at 145, Floyd Moore at 160, Colby Carmack at 170, junior Devin Stearns at 182, possibly Nick Clay at 220 and returning letterman Pablo Quevas at heavyweight.
Given Waynesville competes in the state’s largest classification, it won’t be easy trying to reach state.
“Something we like to instill is we have kind of a grinder scheduler at certain points of the season: Be a fighter. It doesn’t matter who you are wrestling. Get that takedown. And not only fight for yourself but your teammates,” Smith said. “We’re going to get after it.”
