By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Over the past few years, coach Matt Holt’s efforts to build Marshfield High School’s wrestling program into more of a contender have led to true results.
However, after the graduation of several starters last year – including three state qualifiers – the coach’s efforts will come more into focus this year. And he’s optimistic, particularly because a few returning starters and some junior varsity guys have been part of Marshfield Youth Wrestling. Holt runs it, too.
“This is the first season in a while that we will be this inexperienced,” Holt said. “We have been very good on the JV level and, if we can translate that into the varsity level, we should not miss a beat. But we are going to have to prepare and train now like Varsity wrestlers.
“We will not fully know what kind of team we have until we get into the wrestling room. That’s both exciting and terrifying.”
Now in his ninth season, Holt is 152-49, including 19-4 last season. Last March, the team sat in fifth place in the Class 3 state tournament the first two days before the semifinals and so-called blood round.
This year, the coach anticipates 35 on the varsity roster. That includes six returning starters, including four state qualifiers. Efforts to bolster the youth program have helped, too, as several of its alums are now on the varsity roster.
Projected roster
Look for freshmen Garon Whitlock and Colton Ragsdale at 106, Takoda Gritts at 113, R.J. Hill and sophomore Max Perkins at 120, sophomore Tanner Davidson at 126, junior M.J. Gritts at 132, seniors Tommy Mynatt and Joseph Martin at 138 and 144, and junior Matthew Brooks at 150.
In the upper weights, it could be junior Levi Fuller at 157, followed by junior Peyton Woolman and senior T.J. Hearod at 165, sophomore Tyce Jones at 175, junior Eli Reynolds and sophomore Malaki Timmons at 190, senior Erik Tomanek at 215 and either senior Mason Mellington or sophomore Shawn Bearden at heavyweight.
A lot of eyes will be on Davidson, who was 41-10 last year and placed sixth at state.
“He’s a great leader. He wrestles with a chip on his shoulder,” Holt said. “He is aggressive and mean, and fun to have on your team.”
Mynatt is a three-year starter who is closing in on 100 career wins. He qualified for state last year.
“He is extremely coachable and embodies what we want a Marshfield wrestler to be,” Holt said.
Martin is a three-year starter who also is near 100 career wins. His strength and athleticism could carry him deeper this year after earning a 32-14 record last season.
Tomanek was 45-8 last year and placed fifth at state last March.
“He has wrestled more this summer than anyone else,” Holt said, noting Tomanek qualified for Fargo and wrestled from North Dakota to Texas over the summer. “He’s an athlete and strong.”
Gritts was 30-12 last year and a state qualifier, after starting the year as a part-time starter.
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Sleepers?
Jones was 31-11 between varsity and JV and practiced with the varsity as a freshman. Bearden, a youth state champion, was 25-10 last year. Mellington was 11-5 after taking a few years off from the sport. Brooks was 20-10 on varsity and JV combined and is the younger brother of two former Marshfield wrestlers.
Reynolds, Woolman and Fuller have been in the room and could make an impact.
Starting the season
Marshfield will have its Blue and White duals on Nov. 18, and its first dual Dec. 1 at West Plains. The first tournament is Dec. 3 at Bolivar.
A year ago, the Blue Jays were the runner-up of the Big 8 Conference after placing third at the Bolivar Tournament, winning the Union Tournament and finishing third at the Kinloch Classic.
“This is a new year and they are going to have to find their own identity,” Holt said. “We will replace more starters this season than any other year in my time here. Our motto and standard here is TCOB – ‘Take Care of Business’ – and this group is going to have to step up and do just that.”
Girls Wrestling
Marshfield’s girls team has been a success, too. Led by coach Adam Wright, the Lady Jays are 57-7 in duals from 2018 to 2022.
“We have won the Big 8 Conference every season that they have a had a girls wrestling tournament,” Wright said. “We will use that fact as motivation to work hard so we can keep the championship streak alive.”
Wright anticipates 20 girls on the roster this season, including eight returning starters. Two were state qualifiers two years ago.
However, the team graduated three state qualifiers. Assistant coaches are Nicole Pooley and Jason Broyles.
Girls projected roster
Look for freshman Bayleigh Cruise at 100 pounds, sophomore Bianca Dockery at 105, sophomore Alyx Keifert at 115, freshmen Darla Young and Adyson Clark at 120, sophomore Addison Matney at 125, senior Macie James at 130, junior Ariaha Mcillwain or freshman Abby Spencer and Kylie Green-Beck at 140.
In the remaining weights, it could be junior Camryn Elliot at 145, junior Trinity Lesser at 155, junior Izzy Whitlock or freshman Emory Lundquist at 170, and either sophomore Coleigh Page or freshman Kaylee Cantrell at 235.
James was a state qualifier last year and placed in the top eight of the Wonder Woman Tournament, one of the toughest in the region. She was one win shy of advancing to the medal round at 135 last year.
“She has put in a lot of time on the mat, and the weight room during the offseason,” Wright said. “She is solid on her feet and a hammer when she gets on top. She has worked hard on getting better on the bottom, and I expect that work to pay off this upcoming season.”
Lesser qualified for state as a freshman and was 40-9 last season.
“Trinity is a great wrestler on her feet and is a gifted technical wrestler,” Wright said. “She had a great offseason, and I expect her to keep improving and to be a leader on our team this season.”
Whitlock was 42-10 last season, bouncing back after suffering an injury her freshman season. She was a match away from qualifying for state.
“She has good hips and has a great throw from her feet,” Wright said. “We look forward to her improving on the mat this season and expect her to make a name for herself.”
Elliott has been a leader the past two years and could turn the corner this winter. Keifert is among the more athletic wrestlers on the team and just missed qualifying for state last year, finishing 38-17. Page was 32-16 last year and also barely missed qualifying for state.
Mcillwain suffered torn a knee ligament her sophomore year but was 20-16 as a freshman.
Among Wright’s goals this season is for the girls to win 75 percent of their last matches in tournaments.
“This goal is intended to show growth and mental toughness and winning big matches,” Wright said.
There is reason to be optimistic.
“We went to the NEO girls wrestling camp over the summer and had more wrestlers attend than any other program there,” Wright said. “I expect our commitment and time on the mat during the offseason to pay off big for our girls that put in the time and effort.”
