By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It’s always been a challenge for any Parkview High School wrestling coach to recruit to the team.
However, William Ressel is doing what he can but, more than anything, making sure that those who are showing up will have a chance to do some damage late in the season.
For him, the sport is meaningful. This is his sixth year at Parkview, and he has a long history with the sport.
“I was an assistant coach at Kickapoo for three years before that, and a middle school coach at Glendale before that for one year,” Ressel said. “I wrestled at the University of Central Missouri for four years, plus my redshirt year. I wrestled all four years of high school at Kickapoo for Coach (Billy) Buckley, and wrestled one year in middle school as a Grapplemaniac for Coach (Brian) Pyck, who is now at Central.
“I would not be here today if it were not for Coach Buckley and Coach Pyck.”
If Ressel can recruit the hallways, he can sell teens on the fact that they likely will see a lot of varsity time.
Girls wrestling
The girls team might be an easier sell, as three had success last season.
Parkview should see junior Becca Waterman at 100 pounds, followed by senior Rose Le at 112 and junior Cherokee White at 125.
Waterman won the Ozark Conference last year.
“She was sick last year at district, otherwise would have been a state qualifier,” Ressel said. “She has a motor and might be the hardest worker in the room. She is not afraid to wrestle anybody. She’s an honor roll student and a great kid to have on the team.”
Le also was an Ozark Conference champion last year who lost in the bubble round at districts.
“She has been a club wrestler for the past three years and has made large strides in her wrestling career,” Ressel said. “She has talked about wrestling in college, and I hope she is able to visit some schools this year.”
White was an Ozark Conference runner-up.
“She wrestled in middle school,” Ressel said. “She has really come into her own. She is a little shy and quiet off the mats, but turns on the switch when she hits the mats.”
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Boys team
Of the 14 weight classes, only five are listed on Parkview’s preseason roster – and three of those are returning starters.
The projected roster has freshman Dece Thomas at 113 pounds, Levi Noguera at 138, Jace Thomas at 144, Junior Lamarre at 150 and Joseph Woods at 160.
“We graduated one senior last year and will be returning a handful of starters from last year,” Ressel said. “So we are still a young team but have gained a little experience.”
Lamarre is a senior.
“He will be the third wrestler I will have had for all four years of high school,” Ressel said. “He has wrestled varsity all four years. Seems to make it to the bubble round to qualify for the state tournament each year and comes up just short.”
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Thomas competed in a local youth club, so he’s coming in with some experience. Noguera is a junior who is a two-year starter. Thomas, a junior, is new to Parkview wrestling but has been a club wrestler for several years.
Woods, a sophomore, was a starter last year and improved as the season went along.
“What we lack in experience, we make up for in hard work and effort. We are excited about the wrestlers we have returning,” Ressel said. “We are looking to add many wrestlers to fill weight classes for the boys and girls teams. We have a great group of kids that are always willing to go to battle for each other.”
