By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Last season was a stepping stone in the right direction for Joplin wrestling.
“If you’re not trying to build, you’re getting stale,” head coach Jeremy Finley says. “We’re trying to build off last year’s success we had and trying to be where we need to be.”
The Eagles had two state qualifiers: Gunner Price at 285 and Draven VanGilder at 195. Price graduated after going 21-6, but VanGilder returns as a senior after going 18-9 last year.
VanGilder is a physical athlete who was one of the top linebackers in the state during football season. Finley said his physicality suits him well on the wrestling mat.
“It’s man against man and he’s a tough, hard-nosed kid,” he said. “And he’s a hard worker. Usually those words fit the description of a pretty successful wrestler. He may be back at 95 for us, we don’t know yet.”
VanGilder isn’t the only Joplin wrestler who possesses similar qualities. In fact, the Eagles will feature at least three linebackers and several who played defense for the football team in their lineup this year.
Senior Drew VanGilder returns after going 13-6 at 170 pounds and Finley said he’s got “the look.”
“He’s a really put together, good-looking kid,” he said.
There’s senior Alex Short, who was 10-16 at 126 pounds last year and has been wrestling since he was seven or eight.
“I keep using the word hard-nosed, but those are the types of kids we want to attract,” Finley said.
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Senior Orion Norris is another one of those; he was 11-18 at 132 pounds last year.
Junior Johnny Williams is another linebacker who wrestled at 182 last year and went 9-5.
Sophomores Keshawn Peavler, Justice Rogers and Brennen Washington were all listed as heavyweights last year and could see time this year, as well.
Joplin’s girls squad had seven wrestlers on the roster this year and Finley expects at least 10 to 12 will wrestle this year. Junior Ericka Washorn is the most experienced returner after going 18-6 at 130 pounds.
“She’s going to be pretty dang tough,” Finley said. “This will be her third year in the sport and she’s a really good kid, too. She’ll probably be our number one.”
Sophomore Coryaunna Mueller returns after winning six matches at 115, and sophomore Olyvia Higdon returns after winning six at 135.
“I always tell the kids we have the opportunity to be pretty stinking tough if we can get our guys in the right frame of mind and we have the right work ethic to come in everyday and look to get better, not just put our time in,” Finley said.
The Joplin boys open the season Nov. 29 against Webb City. They’ll travel to the Bentonville West boys tournament and the Columbus Duals in December, and the Republic Invitational and Columbia Hickman Invitational in January.
The girls will travel to the Monett tournament in January, and currently have matches against Seneca, Kickapoo and Branson on the schedule.
