BOYS TEAM
The Hillcrest boys wrestling team will have youth throughout, but still returns several starters according to head coach Clint Smith.
The returning starters include: Chester Pearson (sophomore, 126-132), Claude Chlumba (junior, 150), Kipper Brandenberg (junior, 157-165), Colton Williams (sophomore, 175), Myles Atteberry (junior, 215), and Andrew Neer (senior, 285).
Smith pointed to Atteberry as a key leader.
“I can’t say enough about the work I have seen out of Myles Atteberry,” Smith said. “While he is a physical specimen that is extremely athletic, strong, and very technical, maybe his more-impressive attributes are his work-ethic and leadership. I am cautious to not put too much on him, but, he just seems to run with it. Our entire staff sees extraordinary potential in this exceptional kid. He leads warmup, stretching, demonstration, and holds himself to a very high standard. On more than one occasion, I will see him helping younger wrestlers to understand a shot or turn or something we just learned. He is a very good wrestler that his entire team respects and looks to. For some, that may be too much of a burden. He seems to accept his role and makes our entire team better.”
Smith expects the light to middle weights to do good things.
“I think we are going to see some very good things out a few of our lightweights and middles. Ryan Whitlock (12), Chester Pearson (10), Eli Bates (10), Ben Tscerney (10), Claude Clumba (11), Hunter Blomenkamp (10), and Colton Williams (10) are already fighting for Most-Improved recognition. Because of a great work ethic, they are developing quickly and should have very high goals over the next couple seasons,” Smith said. “Chester just “looks like a wrestler” and should have a very high ceiling. I think Hunter [Blomenkamp] may be one of the most impressive young guys. He loves to workout, loves to compete, and is a sponge for everything we show. Colton [Williams] is another that does everything right and is willing to pay the price to be very successful. Landon Gerhardt [11] and Spencer Boyer [11] are also guys that are doing the little things right. Each of them should make varying appearances on varsity.”
Brandenburg has the potential to make some history for Hillcrest.
“Kipper Brandenberg has been a wrestler much of his life. His older brothers have been very successful in the area and have been more than enough inspiration to him and others,” Smith said. “His brother, Gabe, is still wrestling in college. His dad, Chris, also an MMA/combat sports veteran, has been in he and his brothers’ corner since their start. Kipper is one of our leaders. He is respected in the area and expected to be one of SW Missouri’s best. He has a chance to be the first Hillcrest Wrestler to eclipse 100 wins and could do it as early as late this season.”
Senior Ryan Whitlock will also look to make an impact.
“Ryan Whitlock could be our biggest surprise this year,” Smith said. “He is new and, no doubt, technique will be a challenge. What he lacks in wrestling experience, he makes up for it and then some in life. He is active in HHS ROTC-Raiders and is a beacon of fitness and fortitude. After high school, he plans to make a career out of serving our country in the military. I preach what I call the “four pillars of wrestling”: Mind, Body, Technique, and Intangibles. For success, I think you only have to be excellent in three of the four. A lot may have had a little ability in all of the four. They will often be outmatched by another-void of something, but, with higher levels in the other categories. We will work to develop Whitlock’s ‘Technique.’ But, his Mind, Body, and Intangibles are absolutely off the charts. I think that will translate to wrestling success for him.”
Hillcrest opens up the season with a dual at Central on Dec. 3.
“I will grade our success largely on the numbers we finish with. Like the old “frog in a stove pot of water” metaphor, we will gradually bring the temperature up. Our kids improved a lot last season with Coach Fogle. Last year’s Hornets improved more than in any time over the last 20 years. I want to have even greater progress this year. I tell our kids repeatedly that we will not look anything like we have ever looked before. Because we have exceptional human beings in our room like Coach Patrick Maxwell and Coach Daniel Tscherney, our kids know that they are safe and with people that care about them. As our season and the workouts get tougher, I plan to increase the heat while retaining very high numbers,” Smith said. “Tangibly, I want to have a winning dual season. I see potential for a few all-conference wrestlers -maybe a champ or two, a few state qualifiers, and fruition to a number of a few very high individual goals.”
GIRLS TEAM
The girls team expects to have 14 out for the team.
Most of the starters will be freshmen and sophomores. Kenzy Price (sophomore), Tailynn Pohsander (sophomore), and Abbi Whitman (junior) were starters last season.
“There is no one that is spent more time in the off-season to get better than Kenzy Price. She and “Howard” (Abbey Howard) went everywhere they could, any time the doors are open, to get better. I am expecting great results out of both of them because of their commitment,” Smith said. “Kenzy, at 113, will be wrestling 115-110, but, seldomly was able to find anyone close to her size. We need lightweights, and, therefore, I have had a push for our kids to recruit. I have been very happy with the addition and work of Isabella Plotke. Because she, too, will be wrestling 115-110, she has become a perfect partner for Kenzy. Kenzy is improving dramatically while Isabella is developing far quicker and better than I could have expected. She is already a leader and a force to be reckoned with.”
Tatiana Martinez (sophomore, 145) will look to have a big impact.
“We really don’t have any weak links. Because of that, we have a lot of really motivated, tough, smart, and disciplined kids,” Smith said. “In the middle of that, our kids and coaches would unanimously agree that Tatiana Martinez is going to be special. She comes from a grappling and combat sports background with some JH/youth wrestling experience. Since making it to the room, she has been a fixture; often the first to get there-last to leave. She is tough, intelligent, a leader, and a perfectionist-everything you want in a wrestler. I think she has potential to be one of the very best.”
Freshman Brooklyn Baczek comes in with big expectations.
“We are expecting big things out of Brooklyn Baczek,” Smith said. “My predecessor and longtime friend, Coach [Spike] Fogle, specifically, mentioned her and the contribution he thought she would make. I completely agree. She wrestled in JH at Pleasant View under Coach Gott. I haven’t seen a lot of kids that understand their tools and what they should be doing better. I am really big on “playing the hand you’re dealt;” We work to develop position, technique, and a game plan that uniquely compliments a person’s traits. Brook, maybe better than anyone, is really good on her feet with weapons that are perfect for her athleticism, height, and game-plan. She does a good job of chain wrestling and using shots, throws, etc. that complement each other: If this, then, this, etc.”
Several others will be bigger pieces this season.
“Abbey Howard, Tailyn Pohsander, Clara Dameron, Jailee Figuero, Brooklyn Baczek, and Nadia Woodward should all be bigger contributors this season,” Smith said. “They are mostly sophomores and coming with varying levels of varsity mat time. But, because of the numbers in the room, them specifically, and the balance of experience, we should be tough. We just need them to fan out-several, currently, are close to the same weights.”
Upper weights will be a strength for Hillcrest.
“Hillcrest has an identity, already. We are loaded with upper weights. As a coach, I couldn’t ask for a better situation: For about 20 years as a coach, I have always had a bigger tactical role with upper weights; Again, our teams at HHS (girls and boys) have no shortage of upper weights. I would argue: very good upper weights. As mentioned before, I expect big things to happen from some of our lighter/mids: Kenzy Price, Isabella Plotke, and Tatiana Martinez. They will supplement our 1-2 ….3-4-5 punch at the end,” Smith said. “Abbi Whitman is expected to be a leader for us in a number of ways and an anchor for our team. She will likely be our 190 and is really putting it together. She was a starter for us last season as a sophomore, wrestled at districts, and ended with a winning record. Her work in the practice room is contagious and usually inspires others to work harder. She is a technician and a very good wrestler, but, more-important is a model student-athlete, excellent in the classroom, and working around the clock with NHS and college prep.”
The girls will also open their season at Central on Dec. 3.
“I think we are getting there on technique and conditioning,” Smith said. “If technique and conditioning is part of a team’s identity, they can expect good things. Our biggest challenge is to fill every weight. Since MSHSAA has added Girls Wrestling, it isn’t as common for most teams to fill every weight. But, it helps a lot if you can. I think we have the ingredients to be very good over the next 2-3 seasons. I just don’t want to spot teams 24-30pts before we ever start a dual. I want us to be a very good “dual” team and maybe even better tournament team. We definitely have very big tangible goals.”
