By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Over the years, Logan-Rogersville High School has produced a number of competitive wrestlers.
And so it’s no wonder that wrestling coach Jason Carter is excited about the upcoming winter, which marks his seventh at the school.
You see, there are 10 returning starters, including four returning state qualifiers. And he isn’t about to let his guys let their collective foot off the pedal, so to speak.
For instance, he already has scheduled a tournament in Oklahoma, a hotbed for wrestling.
“The Claremore, Oklahoma dual tournament is a grinder,” Carter said. “Some of the best teams from Oklahoma let us know where we are at and prepare us for the rest of our season.”
Projected roster
Carter anticipates about 35 wrestlers in the room when the curtain rises on practices this season.
Look for sophomore Izaiah Watkins at 106 pounds, followed by sophomore Braxton Yost at 113, freshmen Greyson Ritter or Charlie Packard at 120 and 126, sophomore Rowen Homburg, junior Stevie Williams or senior Jordan Hendrix at 132, sophomore Jackson Snider at 138 and Jacob Foster at 145.
In the remaining weights, it could be seniors Beau Thompson or Calvin Jones at 150, senior Griffin Swearengin at 157, sophomores Jacob Shinkarevich and Kadin Agee at 165, senior Kolbey Ballowe or freshman Keziah Queen at 175, senior Davin Agee at 190, senior Joey Anderson at 215 and either sophomore Lucas Parris or junior Abel Stinnett at heavyweight.
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Returning state qualifiers
Snider, Foster, Thompson and Swearengin qualified for the state tournament last March.
Foster placed fifth last season, the second time he had qualified for state.
“We have a great group of upperclassmen coming back this year to lead an also great group of younger men in the room,” Carter said.
“Beau Thompson and Griffin Swearengin were both state qualifiers last year and should provide great leadership in the room,” he added. “The experience they got at the state tournament last year will be very helpful this year. We expect to see both of them on the podium this year.”
Snider is interesting, having qualified for state as freshman.
“He is fast, strong and explosive,” Carter said. “The things he learned last year at the state tournament will make him a force this year.”
Possible impacts
Agee and Anderson suffered season-ending injuries last year, so are eager to make up for lost time. That’s the same with Homburg, who suffered a broken arm before Christmas.
“Ballowe put a lot of time in the weight room, has matured a great deal in the offseason, and should be an impact wrestler this year,” Carter said.
Sleepers?
Keep an eye on Shinkarevich.
“He was tough as nails last year as a freshman and has just gotten tougher in the offseason,” Carter said. “He is a menace on the football field, and we expect him to be the same as he wrestles this year.”
Jones is in his fourth season on varsity and is coming off an injury. Ritter is up from the youth club, and Parriss broke into the varsity lineup midway through last season.
“We were pleasantly surprised to get five guys through to state last year, wrestling above our seed in some of those matches,” Carter said. “We hope to have some more surprise success this year when it really counts at district and state. We hope to get better every week and peak at districts and state. We would love to qualify seven to eight kids and bring home five medals.”
Rogersville Girls
“We are looking at having three or four girls on our team this year,” Carter said. “Gabbie Bybee is returning from a successful season last year and hopes to build on that. We are adding a couple of inexperienced young ladies, but they have a tremendous work ethic and great athletic ability. Addie Bybee joined the team late last year and will look to improve. Morgan Todd will be in her first year.”
