By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There’s nothing like a nice, fresh start.
Just ask Jason Carter, the coach of the Logan-Rogersville High School wrestling team.
“It was a rough year last year. We had a number of quarantines throughout the year due to Covid and had the entire team get quarantined late in the year,” Carter said. “The last month and half of the season, we did not compete a single time, which really showed when we went to districts and sectionals.”
He went on.
“Only getting to practice and not getting to compete really hurt our team down the stretch,” Carter added. “We hope to rebound from the rough ending last year to have a better year this year.”
Projected roster
Rogersville has had a competitive program over the years with Carter in charge, and that narrative shouldn’t change.
Carter anticipates about 35 wrestlers in the room at the start of the season. That number would be the most in his time there. Among them are eight returning starters as well as three who had some varsity time last year. However, Rogersville does not have a returning state qualifier.
The projected roster could be freshmen Izaiah Watkins and Braxton Yost at 106 pounds, followed by either of those two or junior Abel Seau at 113, sophomore Barron Harper and freshman Rowen Homburg (120), junior Jordan Hendrix and freshman Jackson Snyder (126), Snyder or sophomore Trevor Cole (132), junior Jacob Foster or freshman Kadin Agee (138) and senior Kit Farran (145).
In the upper weights, junior Beau Thompson likely will be at 152 pounds, followed by juniors Cooper Martin and Calvin Jones (160), juniors Griffin Swearengin and Calvin Jones and sophomore Kolbey Ballowe (170), senior Ryland Hacker (182), junior Davin Agee (195), junior Joey Anderson (220) and sophomore Sean Neely (285).
Farrin was one match away from qualifying for the state tournament last season.
“He has done a ton of offseason work and spent substantial time in the weight room,” Carter said.
Thompson suffered an injury the week before the district tournament last year, but has put in the work this offseason.
Foster qualified for the state tournament two years ago and was one match away last season.
“Swearengin will be moving up a number of weight classes due to a great deal of time in the weight room,” Carter said. “He should put it all together this year.”
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Anderson developed well last year, with Carter calling it a “breakout year.”
“An added year of maturity will really make a difference for him,” Carter said.
And then there is Agee.
“He is one of the best athletes on the team,” Carter said. “Davin had moments last year that showed how good he could be, but was plagued with injuries throughout the season.”
Of Hacker, Carter said, “One of our best in the room. This is the year he will put it together out tin the bright lights.”
Sleepers?
Cole had a strong season on junior varsity last season, and the hope is he returns from a fall ankle issue. Snyder, Agee and Homburg had solid seasons for the junior high team and could help make an impact this year.
Goals
“We hope to qualify five to seven of our kids for the state tournament this year and bring home at least four medals,” Carter said.
To get there, check out the schedule. It includes duals against Class 4’s Nixa and Lebanon, and the Wildcats will see Monett and Class 3 powerhouse Neosho. Additionally, they travel to Claremore, Okla., for a weekend tournament, where they’ll have nine duals over two days.
“We have a very well-rounded team and should be solid all the way through the line-up,” Carter said.
“This could be the best dual teams we have had since I have been here at Rogersville.”
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Girls wrestling
Essie Hibbert and Gabbie Bybee, both juniors, are in their first year on Rogersville’s roster. Hibbert competed previously for Nixa.
