By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For a wrestling team entering only its second year in history, the Cassville Wildcats certainly have some positive energy already.
Just look around the room this year – its first two state qualifiers are back, and so is coach Nathan Fortner, a 2010 graduate of wrestling-mad Seneca High School. And, even better, the team is anticipating 30 wrestlers at the start of the season – a healthy number for any program, second year or 22nd year.
“It’s kind of building up around here,” said Fortner, who was on the Seneca High School wrestling staff with that team won the 2015 state championship in Class 1. “I teach in the high school and talked to a lot of the (students) and I coach football as well.”
In other words, Fortner keeps recruiting the hallways and has a supporter in new football coach Lance Parnell.
“He’s never been around wrestling,” Fortner said. “But even last year, he said he saw a difference I his football team.”
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The Wildcats have talent to build around in 170-pound Wyatt Goade and 160-pound Logan Carlin. Goade placed sixth in the Class 2 state tournament, winning his opening match to make school history and then making school history again two days later by reaching the medal stand.
“He wrestling his tail off,” Fortner said. “He’s going to be a big-time leader in our room. And he kind of leads by example. He just does everything the right way.”
“That’s what I’ve got a lot of in Cassville – they’re blue-collar kids who are perfect for this sport,” Fortner added.
Carlin should be improved, too.
“He’s was a transfer so he had to wait (until second semester) to compete last year,” Fortner said. “He’s chomping at the bit for a full season.”
Cassville did graduate five senior starters, but there are some guys with intrigue.
The projected lineup includes freshmen Gavin Moore (106), Lakota Babb (113), Gabe Hunter (120) in the first three weight classes. However, the team returns Jaden Davis (126), Blake Gordon (132), Jose Melcher (145), Michael Hunter (152), Colton Moore (182) and Caleb Lucero (195).
Other notables include Ethan Youngman (152), Logan Tolbert (160), Owen Morris (170), Mark Collingwood (182), Colter West (195), Jamie Auginaga and Grant Davis (220) and Mason Hendricks in the heavyweight division.
Keaton Atherton, at 138, has transferred from Diamond High School.
“I think we’re going to have a full team,” Fortner said. “So I’m excited to see what they’re going to be able to do this year.”
