By Pat Dailey For OzarkSportsZone.com
Reeds Spring’s Eben Crain gave a good account of himself at the Class 2 State Wrestling Tournament last season, even while going down to defeat in the opening round.
Crain fell 10-6 to eventual 285-pound state champion Camren Hedgpeth, of Cameron. During their match, Crain lost one of his front teeth.
“His tooth snapped right in half and he spit it out,” Wolves coach Chris Lowe said. “He’s a tough son of a gun. He pushed through it. He took a lot of Anbesol (the rest of the tourney) to try to ease the pain.”
Crain went on to close out his sophomore season with a 40-8 record and a fifth-place finish at State. He returns this season to try to become Reeds Spring’s first state champion since Zach Kearney won 220-pound state titles in 2013 and 2014.
“He has set lofty goals,” Lowe said. “He works hard and put the time in during the summer by going out of his way to wrestle in some big tournaments.”
Crain will again get acquainted with Monett’s Harrison Merriman, who was third at State in Class 2 last season and handed Crain five of his eight losses.
If last season is any indication, nothing will come easy for Reeds Spring.
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“The top three teams in the state came out of our Sectional,” Lowe said. “We’ve got to wrestle the best competition to give ourselves a chance to get out of Districts.”
Reeds Spring returns another state-qualifier in 170-pound senior Evan Wilson. He was 35-12 and did not place at State last season.
“It was Evan’s first time at State and nerves got the best of him,” Lowe said. “He was in a tough weight class and will be at 170 again this year. He had a tremendous summer and beat some high-quality people. He comes in very confident. He always wants a tough match, never backs down from any one and learns from his losses.”
Jacob McCracken is back after going 21-10 at 145. His junior season ended early due to an injury at the Big Eight Tournament.
“He’s back to being 100 percent and grew a lot in the off-season,” Lowe said. “He’ll bump up a couple weight classes to 160.”
Easton Byrne will take over at 145, after compiling a 31-16 record last season.
The Wolves also have experienced grapplers in Wyatt Rogers (152 pounds), Rocky Love (106 or 113), Daniel Settles (126 or 132) and Gabe Sipe (145 or 152).
Shane Pearson and Lucas Wattenbarger are freshmen who could make an immediate impact and sophomores Sebastin Michaud and Spencer Michaud are newcomers showing promise.
As for the Lady Wolves, Lexi Harris returns after going 28-12 at 159 last season. She has her sights set on making State as a senior.
“She’s going to make a run at it and has the ability,” Lowe said. “Once she sets her mind on something, she goes at it pretty hard.”
