By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Some coaches try to downplay the talent in their room, but Nixa High School wrestling coach Dustin Martin isn’t afraid to acknowledge that this may be his strongest roster in years.
Look up and down the roster, and it’s dotted with returning starters, many of them state qualifiers, including two who have been state runners-up at the varsity level.
“I’m excited, but I’m hoping COVID doesn’t rob us of a state champion,” Martin said. “And I think we can finish pretty well at state.”
The roster features sophomore Zan Fugitt, who was a state runner-up last year and is ranked No. 12 in the country on FloWrestling.com. He may compete at 106 pounds or 113 pounds and recently competed in the Super 32, a national high school event in South Carolina.
“There are three reasons I like him,” Martin said. “One, he’s an athlete. He keeps in shape year-round. Two, his technical level is very good. And three, he’s very coachable. Sometimes you see a kid who has had success but who doesn’t like changing his style.”
Junior Peyton Moore was a state runner-up two years ago and placed sixth last year at 113. He could be at 120 this year.
“He’s coachable and he’s a great leader for our program,” Martin said.
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The rest of the roster includes: senior Deagan Fugitt (120-126), juniors Dylan Webster (126-132), Connor Swensen and Cole Crahan (132-138-145), junior Nate Brower (113-120) and freshman Aidan Ward (106-120).
In the middle weights, look for seniors Kolyn Eli (152-160), Dylan Carter (152-160) and juniors Connor Fangrow (145), Alex Bewley (152), Gideon Carter (152), sophomore Lizandro Morales (145), senior Cody Gardner (138-145) and juniors Ty Hartman (160) and Jason Curry (145).
In the upper weights, look for junior John Gholson (220), sophomore Garrett Davidson (195-220), junior Michael Turner (182-195), sophomore Avry Rutherford (195), sophomore Charles Speake (182) and junior Miachel Nevels (195-220).
Deagan Fugitt (two-time), and Gholson are returning state qualifiers. Fugitt suffered a one-point loss in overtime in a state bubble match last season.
“(Fugitt) wasn’t gifted by the wrestling gods, but he’s put in the time and effort,” Martin said. “We’ve got to get Deagan a medal.”
Gholson was 1-2 at state last season, and his practice partner might be assistant coach Ben Melton, a former Drury University wrestler.
“He’s going to be a leader of our upper weights,” Martin said. “He’s really coming along.”
Webster, Swensen, Crahan, Eli, Dylan Carter, Bewley, Davidson, Turner, Rutherford and Speake are returning starters. Crahan and Eli were Central Ozark Conference champions, and Carter is motivated. He’s a three-year starter whose seasons have ended in the state bubble match, including twice in overtime.
Martin credits the depth and success to the district’s investment in a dedicated wrestling room a few years ago as well as a strong youth program.
“We have a very supportive district,” Martin said. “In junior high, we’ve had over 100 wrestlers two years in a row, boys and girls.”
Girls wrestling
The girls team also appears to be competitive, led by 103-pound returning state champion Ashlyn Eli and freshman Brenya Crahan.
Eli’s only loss was to an Oklahoma girl last season.
“She’s pretty strong,” Martin said. “She’s got a tenacious attitude.”
Crahan is a multiple youth state champion and recently competed in a preseason nationals tournament in Illinois.
The rest of the roster includes returning starters Micah Ballew, Micayla Ballew, Audrey Coger, Emily Thomassen, Kirsten Fugitt, Harmony Rust and Anna Alviar and Brittany Williams.
Fugitt and Rust were state medalists, and Alviar is a transfer who was a state qualifier.
Fugitt competed at 130.
“She is what you’d expect out of the Fugitt family – she had never wrestled before and, once she got on the mat, she was good,” Martin said, noting she can out-athlete opponents thanks to a background as a gymnast.
Rust competed at 166 last year and, with Alviar moving in, now has a quality practice partner.
The girls roster also includes Taelor Dorr, Olivia Cochran, Emily Krick, Addison Eli, Katie Faulk and Kelsi Moore. As of Oct. 24, MSHSAA had yet to announce girls weight classes this season.
Overall, it’s a talented room for Nixa.
“I think, with our girls team, we definitely want to bring home a trophy from the state tournament,” Martin said.
