By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The term “first-year coach” probably evokes several similar responses, right? Young and green. Inexperienced. New to town. Will have a ways to go to build a competitive team.
However, that’s not exactly the case for Forrest Drury, the wrestling coach at Nevada High School.
You see, the former Southwest Baptist University pole vaulter and linebacker has an advantage – he has coached the Nevada Middle School program since 2018 and built up impressive numbers.
“Last year, we saw tremendous growth in our middle school program. Our number of girls and boys almost tripled from previous years, to 48,” Drury said. “I believe some of the success of some of the young men and women have inspired others to give wrestling a chance. All body types are welcome to this sport, and this allows for some newbies to join us. These kids just need to be open to learn the sport and put in the effort and time it takes to be well-conditioned with strength and flexibility.”
Nevada anticipates 40 wrestlers on the roster at the start of the season. That includes 11 returning starters, four who were state qualifiers. One was a state medalist.
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Projected roster
On the boys side, the projected roster could be freshman Kason Clark at 106 pounds, followed by sophomore Kyndrick Brooks and freshman Barret Nadurata (113), junior Braylin Brooks (120), senior Mokey Dawn and freshman Gannon Marquardt (126), junior Joseph Fahnstock and freshman Hunter Hearting (132), senior Ethan Dighero and junior Eli Mosher (138) and senior JD Downing and freshman Anthony Pizano at 145.
In the upper weights, the 152-pound weight class could be juniors Brayden Koening and Jeremy Rivas and sophomore Dezmon Robinson.
The remaining weights feature senior Anthony Vance, sophomore Tyler Longobardi and junior Avious Steadman at 160; junior Zade Lee and sophomores Henry Campbell and Luke Anderson at 170, senior Gauge Boyd and freshman Grady Stewart at 182, juniors Kenneth Johnson and Kennedy Delia and freshman Garret Rogers at 195; senior Logan Smith, sophomore Liam McGrath and freshman Tommy Perry at 220; and junior Skylur Mashek at 285.
Brothers Kyndrick and Braylin Brooks could become familiar names, Drury said. They both qualified for state and just missed earning a state medal. They wrestled freestyle this past summer.
“They are in some tough brackets but have been working a lot in the offseason to continually improve,” Drury said.
Anderson and Campbell could be sleepers.
“(Anderson) showed some tremendous growth last year on the mats. He has a great work ethic, and his strength and conditioning are improving,” Drury said. “Campbell was out last year with an injury, and he is coming into the season after a successful stride in football.”
Fortunately for Nevada, Drury is passionate about the sport. He wrestled for a Minnesota high school, earning all-conference honors and placing sixth at the state tournament. He then attended Southwest Baptist University on a track scholarship (pole vault) and played football his freshman year. He teaches in the middle school, but has helped the high school varsity’s football and wrestling teams.
He also has brought in reinforcements. Assistant coaches include Jerrod Alexander, a former Nevada state qualifier, and Dominic Habjan, a Nevada native who was part of a district championship team.
This past summer, Nevada also had a successful camp run by Chip Balk and his son, Hunter, a wrestler at Arizona State University.
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Girls wrestling
On the girls side, 132-pound senior Lotus Van Dyke and 235-pound senior Claire Pritchett will be tough to deal with.
Pritchett was new to wrestling as a sophomore two years ago and yet placed sixth at the state tournament. She lost in her bubble match last year but finished 33-4. Van Dyke is returning after missing last year due to an injury. She placed seventh her sophomore year.
The rest of the projected girls roster could be freshmen Averl Dawn and Olivia Claspill at 103, sophomore McKenzie Callaghan and freshman Sydnee Baldwin at 116; junior Braianna McElroy at 127; junior Teresa Dawn also at 132; freshman Ella Heathman at 137 and senior Taylor Thompson at 195.
The first dual is against McDonald County on Nov. 30.
“I think we will be solid throughout the girls and boys teams,” Drury said. “We have a lot of experience and dedication on this team. The attitudes and efforts shown with the wrestlers we currently have are exactly what I want to see as we enter the season.”
