By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When wrestling coach Josh Factor projects an intriguing outlook for this winter, you can sense his excitement about McDonald County High School’s wrestlers.
Who can blame him?
The boys team returns 10 starters, including five state qualifiers – notably a former state runner-up in Blaine Ortiz and a third-place finisher in Samuel Murphy.
“Our goals this year are to put our best team on the mat every time we compete and keep getting better,” Factor said. “Ultimately, we want to be ready to compete in Columbia when the state tournament comes up. Everything before then is just preparation.”
McDonald County’s boys team could have about 40 on this year’s roster a year after finishing third in the Big 8 Conference and seventh at the district meet.
The projected roster
The two lightest weights, 106 and 113 pounds, may have to be filled by freshmen. From there, look for junior Jose Mendoza at 120, either sophomore Kayden Most or junior Michael Owens at 126, the senior Ortiz, junior Ayden Ball and Andrew Bowman at 144 and senior Cross Spencer at 150.
In the upper weights, it could be Levi Smith at 157, and three possibilities at 165 in junior Wyatt Reece and sophomores J.T. Clemmons and Brady Bogart and senior Huxley Wardlaw at 170. At 190, it could be several sophomores in Alex Bogart, Malso Sosef, Nathaniel McLaughlin, Cole Thomas and Emmit Houston.
Murphy, a junior, could be at 215 pounds, while junior Jayce Hitt is at 285.
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The state qualifiers
Mendoza qualified for state last year in Class 3.
“Jose has put in a lot of hard work and is currently playing soccer in the fall and is eager to get back on the mat to have another opportunity to compete at the state tournament this year,” Factor said.
Oritz was the state runner-up at 113 pounds in 2021 and is a two-time district champion, Big 8 Conference champion and two-time state qualifier. He will compete at 138 pounds.
“Blaine has worked hard in the offseason with solid performances at the Freestyle & Greco State Tournament, Southern Plains, and the Fall Brawl Tournament,” Factor said, noting Ortiz is being recruited by Missouri Valley College and Cornell College in Iowa.
Smith is out to bring home some hardware from the state tournament this season. He has qualified for state twice and is a Big 8 Conference champion.
“Levi has been very involved in our freestyle and Greco program in McDonald County, and we’re excited to see what he brings to the mat his senior year,” Factor said.
And then there is Murphy, a two-time state placer. He was third last season and fourth in 2021 in Class 3. He won districts and the Big 8 Conference last season.
Think he wants a memorable season? He has finished in the top eight in freestyle at the 17-and-under World Team Trials in Las Vegas, won the Southern Plains regional in freestyle and competed in Fargo this summer. He also recently competed in the Elite 8 duals in Atlanta.
“Samuel should have an exciting season after a third-place finish in Class 3 last season,” Factor said.
Hitt placed fifth last year and twice has won the district title.
“Jayce is a very talented heavyweight and returns a lot of experience in competing in the state tournament as a junior and should add a lot of excitement to this year’s team,” Factor said.
Sleepers?
Spencer is a three-year starter, and Alex Bogart finished sixth in the Fall Brawl Tournament, plus was runner-up in both the 16-and-younger bracket in Freestyle and Greco at the Southern Plains regional. He also competed in Fargo.
Girls wrestling
McDonald County has three returnees who are two-year starters. They are juniors in 105-pound Jaslyn Benhumea, 145-pound Stacy Apolinar-Lopez and 170-pound Gisen Aragon.
Factor figures they’ll have seven more wrestlers on the girls roster.
Opening season
McDonald County’s first duals are at home on Nov. 29 against Rogers, Ark., and Rogers-Heritage. Factor hopes it’s the start of a memorable winter.
“McDonald County has never brought home any hardware from the Big 8 Conference, district, or state,” Factor said. “I’m hoping we can use that for some motivation in this year’s team.”
