By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For years – and we’re talking since 2005 – Brian Pyck has been recruiting the hallways both at Central High School and Pipkin Middle School for wrestlers and preaching about all the positive virtues of the sport and what could be.
The fruits of his labor continues, but the Central High School coach has one more piece in his sales pitch now: the program now has a state champion.
Catherine Dutton won it at 195 pounds last season, and then went on to the Fargo, N.D., tournament in the offseason, becoming a national champion in the 16-and-under division. She is now ranked No. 3 nationally.
Anything else?
“Catherine wants to wrestle in the newly established University of Iowa program,” Pyck said of the senior.
That’s certainly a lofty goal, and the one that Central will need as the Bulldogs grind through the winter.
“Winning state was sick and super exciting,” Dutton said. “It was amazing to compete a Fargo and become the area’s first national champion. My goal this year is to win state undefeated and win the Junior Fargo national championships. My team, school, and coaches have been really supportive, and we have been working hard in the weight room during the off-season.”
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Projected boys roster
Central likely will have only 14 wrestlers but will seek more in the hallways.
Likely starters will be Lucas Gideon (113), Jinx Lashley (120), Jalen Ndongi (126), sophomore Cohen Bane (132), Giffin Ray (138), Gaven Bremenkamp (160) and freshman Josh Nelson (220). Weston Jones is in the mix, too.
Gideon earned a state tournament berth last season.
Jinx Lashley was 26-11 last season, and Gideon was 37-11, finishing one match from placing at the state tournament. They both competed at the Beach Brawl Tournament in Rolla this past summer.
Lashley also placed at the Adidas Nationals, and could be a factor this season, considering he just missed on a state tournament berth last season in what was a competitive bracket.
“Both Lucas and Jinx started wrestling in our youth Bulldogs Wrestling Club, and Jinx’s father, Ricky Lashley, is a former standout Central wrestler (under then-coach Bob Kinloch) and the head coach of the youth club,” Pyck said. “They are coming into this season more focused, stronger, and more experienced from a summer of wrestling and weight training.”
Bremenkamp has 10 years of experience in youth and high school.
“It was great to compete at the Fall Brawl Tournament (in our offseason), and it had some good competition,” Bremenkamp said. “We have been taking the weight seriously this summer and it has made me more confident in my wrestling.”
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Girls team
Other than Dutton, look for Isabella Richardson and Jaidyn Pholsander.
Richardson is looking at competing at Lock Haven University or Adrian College. Pholsander has experience in a local USA Wrestling kids club and in middle school.
Tough schedule
“We have the girls and boys team going to the Union Tournament again in St. Louis, and we are excited to be traveling again after last season,” Pyck said. “The boys team will be competing for the first time in the Hickman Tournament in Columbia and also will be at the Kinloch Tournament in Springfield. There are several new girls tournaments available like the Wonder Woman Tournament in Battle that the girls team is looking forward to competing at.”
