By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
As rough as last season was for the wrestlers of Camdenton High School, it also may have been positive. For this season. For the road ahead.
Longtime coach Grant Leighty knows that well. He’s been at this for 31 years overall, including 14 in Camdenton either coaching middle school or high school. He has led the varsity since 2017.
“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people,” Leighty said. “I think we are going to be overlooked, and I think this will be a mistake.”
Projected roster
The Lakers could have about 40 wrestlers at the start of the season. That’s a healthy number at a football school.
Even better, they have 14 returning starters, with four in and out of the varsity lineup at times.
Look for sophomore Drake Schiefelbein or freshman Derek Lowe at 106 pounds, followed by sophomore Mason Long or junior Vincent Bolinger at 113, junior Wesley Layhay and sophomore Reshon Baumgartner at 120, senior Mason Tibben or sophomore Bode Hantlmann at 126, sophomores Finnegan McNitt or Matt Combs at 132, senior Cooper Rhodenizer or junior Zane Jennings at 138, and either junior Joseph Holt or sophomore Levi Hughes at 144.
In the upper weights, senior Wiley Powers and sophomore Brady Mills are at 150, with senior Aiden Neal and junior Adrian Reinhart at 157, juniors John Holt and Payton Hinton at 165, juniors Ethan Nelson, Ben Matusik and Landon Moore at 175, junior Nathaniel Beeson and sophomore Daniel Jarqun at 190, senior Gunner Morris at 215, and seniors Axel Ambricio and Nathan Foulk at 285.
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The good thing is that many are battle-tested.
“Before the season even started, we lost five returning starters, two were returning state qualifiers. During the season we lost six more starters, most notably Dakota Davis, a returning state runner-up,” Leighty said. “The injury bug just hit our room like I had never experienced before. The kids responded like you want your kids to. They just kept battling.”
That said, Leighty worried it also might have a negative effect.
“It unfortunately put some kids in positions we would rather not had them in,” Leighty said. “We were able to have a decent season, going 9-6 in duals and placing third at our tournament and winning one.”
Camdenton Girls
Coached by Kit Doran, the girls team should be able to fill every weight class.
The members are sophomore Abigail Fuglsang at 100, Zoey Smith at 105, junior Sam Bennett at 110, senior Sarahi Garcia and sophomore Jaionna Sands and Kelsey Rogers at 115, Katyln Baker and sophomore Serenity Hedrick at 120, junior Pagie Burns and Bo Darnell at 130, sophomore Haily Sweat at 125, sophomore Angelina Estrada at 130, junior Chelsea Campopiano and sophomore Ursula Sanford at 135, senior Rylee Hinton and Ashly Smith at 140, junior Lucinda Baker and freshman Rylee Hale at 145.
Look for freshman Rae Ann Wilcut, junior Timerbly Sullivan, freshmen Jacqulien Rairden and Emily Burns at 155, senior Tea Delgado at 170, senior Desmarie Stevens and sophomore Wilma Burgos Flores at 190 and juniors Clara Rathmann, Mia Gladden and sophomore Tae Lynn Waldren at heavyweight. Morgan Scwch and Sabrina Isler also are on the roster.
The girls were 13-3 in duals and finished fifth at the state tournament.
Fuglsang was a state finalist last year and is nationally ranked. She wrestled at the prestigious Fargo Nationals this summer.
“Abby is one of the hardest workers in the room, always one of the first in and last to leave,” Doran said. “With her work ethic and talent, the sky’s the limit. A true leader.”
Rathmann also was a state finalist.
Doran described her at a big talent with a big heart. She also is nationally ranked, having competed in freestyle state and offseason camps.
“She is one of the biggest talents in the room and looks to lead this Laker team to some hardware,” Doran said.
Those two aren’t the only ones who could make a difference.
“Rylee Hinton, Sam Bennett and Tea de jesus-Delgado are all phenomenal athletes who are looking to turn the corner,” Doran said. “All three had huge seasons last year and look to break into the race for state. Last year they were in real contention to qualify.”
Everybody in the room is motivated.
“I believe the success last year has lit a fire under the team to be one of the best the state has and bring home that coveted state hardware,” Doran said. “It has never been done here at Camdenton and these girls want to change that.”
