By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The year before Bud Donnell took as coach of the Glendale High School wrestling program, you could count on one hand – and a finger – the number of wrestlers in the room.
This year, he’s expecting 50 at the start of the season and, even better, the two middle schools that feed into Glendale – Hickory Hills and Pershing – have seen participation numbers jump from about 15 annually to 68.
“And this is the first year of us getting a big crop of freshmen,” Donnell said. “It’s looking up, so we are happy.”
Much is going well as Donnell reaches Year 6 of his rebuild, and this year’s team seven returning starters in half of the weight classes as well as some intriguing guys in that freshman class.
And there is momentum. A year ago, Glendale won a series of No. 4s – in duals against other Springfield schools to win the City Championship, and fourth-place team finishes at the Grandview and Truman tournaments.
Among the notable names is Cameron Flanagan, a senior 170-pounder who is back in the district after returning from Illinois.
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“He wrestled for us as a sophomore and pinned a guy who took third at state,” Donnell said. “In the Neosho tournament, he lost in the finals to a guy (Willard’s Hunter Yeargan) who is a starter at Ohio University.”
“He’s one of those Greco guys who likes to throw people,” Donnell added. “But he lost about 20 pounds and turned it into muscle.”
The projected roster includes returning starters in Bailey Fisher (120), Jared Burnell (132), Bryce Clark (152), Marcus Reinonenq (160), Drew Hayes (182) and Thonan Rabourn (285). Other notables include Jordan Simms (113), Clint Wiggington and Jeremy Waller at 126, Tanner Rust (138), Peyton Ripper (145), Sebastian Hoevset (195) and Collins Sikes (220).
Fisher, a senior, was an All-Ozark Conference two years ago and you may remember him from the Ozarks Sports Zone’s Photo of the Week when he threw a guy backwards.
“This kid plays four sports at Glendale,” Donnell said. “He’s non-stop. He weighs 118 pounds but benches 210 pounds.”
Burnell was fourth at the OC tournament last season and is hoping to walk on at the University of Central Missouri.
“He’s a tall lengthy guy who’s motor never stops,” Donnell said. “He actually went to a two-week, intense camp and worked with the Purlers (wrestling family).”
Two freshmen could burst on the scene, too. Waller is a former youth state qualifier who traveled to national tournaments in Kansas City, St. Joseph and Chicago this past summer along with Wiggington.
“Those guys are inseparable,” Donnell said.
Glendale also gets a boost on the coaching staff, as former state placer Deven Colbert will be in the room.
Overall, a big team goal is to retain the National Guard banner that goes to the City Champion.
“We’re looking forward to (the season),” said Donnell, whose team opens against Kickapoo and Hillcrest. “The kids are really wanting to defend that banner.”
