Glendale qualified one wrestler in Cameron Flanagan for the state tournament last year. This year the Falcons could be poised to increase that number thanks to strong summers from several returning wrestlers.
Jordan Sims and Tanner Rust are expected to have big senior years. Sims posted a 17-21 record at 132 pounds last year. He will drop down to his natural weight of 120 pounds this season. Rust had a strong summer attending the Oklahoma State Wrestling camp. He wrestled 145 pounds last year.
Clint Wigginton had a strong freshman season going 20-23 on varsity at 126 pounds. He is another Falcon that worked to improve himself over the summer by attending camps and doing private lessons with four-time Missouri state champion and JUCO National Champion TJ Hill.
“He is getting a lot stronger. You can physically see him maturing and he is going to wrestle at the same weight, so I see a lot of improvement,” Glendale head coach Bud Donnell said.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
Kyle Justice and Cole Tedford both wrestled at the district tournament last year and will compete for a varsity spot around the 113-pound mark.
Junior Bryce Clark will be a name to watch for the Falcons. He posted a team-high 29 wins last year, but had his season ended early due to injury. Look for him to wrestle around 145 or 152 pounds.
Donnell expects several girls to come out for the team in the first year that MSHSAA is sponsoring girls wrestling as a separate sport from boys wrestling.
Glendale will have a philosophy of being aggressive on the mat this year.
“We try to embrace the Iowa style. We are going to hopefully be the most in shape kids in the gym and we are going to be aggressive. We are going to be coming after people. We aren’t the kind that sits back and waits for action,” Donnell said.
Glendale opens the season on Nov. 27 when they host a triangular.
