By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Kickapoo does not have a returning state qualifier, but will send out eight starters who were also part of the Chiefs’ lineup last season.
Coach Billy Buckley is optimistic he has at least a handful of wrestlers poised for a breakout season.
“We have a large part of our lineup back from last season,” Buckley said. “We feel like we have wrestlers that are ready to make that jump of competing at (the state) level.”
Leading the returnees are Jahan Huynh, Jon Vargas and Logan Wolf. Each was an Ozark Conference Tournament champion last season.
Hunyh’s sophomore season was highlighted by his 4-3 victory in the 138 title tilt victory at the OC Tournament. He went on to a 26-16 record while falling in the second round of wrestlebacks at districts.
Vargas won his 190 OC Tournament title with three pins in his first season at Kickapoo, after moving from Washington state. He shared the team lead for Kickapoo with 28 wins while finishing 28-16. He advanced to the third round of wrestlebacks.
Wolf rolled to his 285 OC Tournament title as a third seed by collecting three first-period pins. He finished 27-13 and also made it to the third round of wrestlebacks.
The Chiefs welcome back four more returnees who also each notched 20-plus wins last season in seniors Beau Benton and Xander Burks and sophomores Joesph Woodard and Daycen Phillips.
Benton tied with Vargas for the team lead in wins while posting a 28-19 record at 144. Burks went 26-14 at 165. Woodard was 26-15 at 113. Phillips was 21-10 at 175.
Preston Ingram, who was 9-16 at 106, also returns.
Buckley likes how he will fill the rest of his lineup.
“We have others that wrestled at the jayvee level that will push for varsity time, along with some incoming freshmen.” he said.
The numbers at Kickapoo continue to be strong and Buckley notes there are underclassmen on the rise.
We should have another full room this season and another large freshman class,” Buckley said. “Our freshman class last year performed really well. They made the transition to high school wrestling very quickly. With a year’s experience, we will look to that class to help us out.”
Buckley is counting on Kickapoo’s entry as a first-year member of the COC to spur improvement within the Chiefs.
“It is going to be great for us,” Buckley said. “Over the years we have competed with a number of COC teams, and it is a conference of very well coached and a very competitive schedule. We will have to be prepared each time we step on the mat. It will be good for us to see that level during the season.”
On the girls side, Buckley is expecting the Lady Chiefs to be in double figures.
“We have a core group of girls returning to our program and we have been pushing to build our numbers yet again,” he said. “We will look to have 10-15 girls on our team.”
Kickapoo’s tournament trail will take the Chiefs to Neosho, Lee’s Summit, Branson, the Kinloch Classic and the COC Tournament.
