By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Since Cassville started wrestling in 2016, the Wildcats have had a state medalist each season. Now, coach Nathan Fornter’s program would like to begin a new streak.
Cassville will be trying to groom a state champion for the second straight year, after Zach Coenen captured a boys title and Annie Moore claimed a girls championship last season. Moore is back to defend her title this year.
“Zach and Annie paved the way for us,” Fortner said.
On the boys side, Cassville’s best bet for gold at State appears to be junior Jake Anthonysz. He was 31-13 as a 145-pound sophomore and will jump to 152 or 160 for his junior season.
“He’s going to be a really good one for us,” Fortner said. “He’s gotten our ‘Iron Man’ award for toughness every year. He loves wrestling and loves to compete. I’ve talked quite a bit in the summer and fall that he wants to win the whole thing this year. He knows he’s right there.”
Akhilleus Arguelles is back after being ineligible for the second half of last season. He was 19-1 through mid-December and was a state-qualifier at 120 two years ago.
Arguelles will return to Cassville’s lineup at 126 or 132.
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“Last year was a good life lesson and the best thing for him,” Fortner said. “He’s done a great job in the off-season to get himself ready to go.”
Fortner likes Kurt Deaver’s chances in what will be his third season at 106. Deaver was 24-14 and third at Districts last season.
“He’s always played football, even though he’s been small, but this year didn’t play football so he could focus on wrestling,” Fortner said. “Obviously, wrestling is something he’s serious about. He knows it’s his main sport. He’s strong, he’s like a little man.”
Matthew Whittenburg was 18-15 as a junior at 126. He will join the Wildcats in January.
“Our boys team is kind of light this year,” Fortner aid. “But we have a good middle school group coming up and in a year we will be able to fill an entire lineup.”
On the girls side, Cassville will nearly be able to fill an entire lineup and the Lady Wildcats will feature four state-qualifiers from last season.
“Our girls team is going to be stacked,” Fortner said.
Moore’s sophomore season saw her go 34-1 en route to the 112 championship.
“She had a dominant season,” Fortner said. “Annie pinned her way through the state tournament.
Moore is expected to remain at 112, but recently showed she could hold her own even when facing off against 122 state champ Brenya Crahan, of Nixa.
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“We were at a camp in Nixa and Annie wrestled Brenya,” Fortner said. “They wrestled tough against each other. It was a good match.”
The Lady Wildcats also welcome back state-qualifiers in Kailey Atherton, Hailey Roark and Faith James. Atherton was 38-7 at 122, Roark was 34-7 at 132 and James was 17-5 at 137.
Others returning are Kelsey Harris, who was 32-4 at 117, and Ryleigh Burnett, who was 19-7 at 174.
Cassville will give its wrestling program a spotlight on Jan. 18, when the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats host McDonald County in an assembly dual.
“Some people in Cassville still don’t quite understand wrestling because it is relatively new here,” Fortner said. “We want to promote the sport within our school.”
