By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For the first time in nearly a decade, the wrestling room at Willard High School will have a new general.
Not that the school had to look far.
Jeff Davis has spent the past couple of seasons at Bolivar, and takes over a program that not only has produced solid results but will have a new room in a few years.
“Our school board and administration just approved a new, four-mat wrestling facility for our program which is much needed,” said Davis, who replaces Justin Wisdom, now at Warsaw High School. “We are excited and can’t wait for that to be built in the next few years. Having a place to call our own that is large enough to accommodate our youth through high school both boys and girls programs.
“I can’t express how excited we are to have this being built for our program. Lots of programs just get stuffed in some random places – kind an out-of-sight, out-of-mind type of thing. Thank goodness Willard does not work like that.”
Projected roster
Willard could have 35 wrestlers on the roster, including 11 returning starters. Of that figure, six qualified for the state tournament last march. The team was 18-1 in duals last season.
This for a program that, before two 11th-place finishes each of the past two years, had this stat line: top seven finishes in Class 3 in four out of five seasons.
Look for Landon Raab at 106 or 113 pounds, Brady Precht at 120, Chris Trudell at 126, George Patton at 132, Noah Rogers or George Patton at 138, and Caleb Caldwell and Noah Rogers at 144.
In the upper weights, Caldwell and Aidan Haines could be at 150, followed by Andrew Kiethley at 157, Gary Walker or Jase Motlagh at 165 or 175, Tanner Moulden and Izik Sims at 190, Alex Nunez at 215, and Brady Griffin at 285.
Walker was a state runner-up at 160 last March. Griffin placed fifth at 195. Nunez was sixth at 220.
“Gary has had a solid football season, and I hope that he rolls into wrestling with some confidence,” Davis said.
Nunez placed sixth last season, and then spent the summer competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman events.
“Alex is extremely athletic for a big man and loves to lift weights,” Davis said. “Alex was also a part-time starter on our football team this year, so I’m hoping that also propels him into the season with some confidence after seeing some quality varsity competition this fall.”
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Griffin is moving from 195 to 285.
“I would venture to say that Brady is one of the most athletic 285’s in the state,” Davis said. “Brady has been a three-sport athlete but also manages to wrestle at an elite level. He is a great student and hard worker. I would expect some great things out of him this year.”
State qualifiers
Rogers qualified for state last year.
“He attended every practice and lift this offseason,” Davis said. “He loves the sport and approaches each practice with a growth mindset. Noah has improved a great deal and only looks to get better this season.”
Caldwell also qualified for state last year.
“He attended the National Duals and Fargo Nationals this summer,” Davis said. “He was very close to earning All-American status at Fargo. He most recently placed at Fall Brawl and beat some solid kids there.”
Sims was 1-2 at state last year for Bolivar High School.
“He battled some medical issues last season but still came very close to pulling off a state medal,” Davis said.
“He has been very active this offseason with practices and learning a new school.”
Sleepers?
Patton has put in the time this offseason. Kiethyly was just shy of advancing to the state tournament at 152 pounds last March. Landon Raab, a freshman, was injured over the summer.
Moulden lost in a bubble match last March to an opponent who eventually placed fifth at state. Motlagh also just missed on qualifying for state.
Trudell was in and out of the varsity lineup last year. Pretch also lost a bubble match at districts.
Bolivar’s inner-squad dual is set for Nov. 16.
“Our offseason has been outstanding, and I’m excited to see growth and improvement from our athletes,” Davis said.
Willard Girls
The Willard girls team has a number of interesting members.
Ashlan Thompson placed at fourth last year, while Catherine Dutton – a state runner-up last year – has transferred from Central High School.
Thompson competed all across the country this fall, and Davis anticipates she will compete for a state title.
“Ashlan competes in Jiu Jitsu and wrestling,” Davis said. “She is an absolute pleasure to coach. She shows up and simply works hard and improves. You couldn’t ask for a better young lady to set the tone for our program.”
Dutton could do damage, too.
“Catherine is a very accomplished wrestler being a Fargo National Champion and Missouri high school champion as a sophomore,” Davis said. “She is a great kid and student that loves wrestling. We are excited to have her in our program this year.”
Other notables are Bailee Cash, Gabby Rogers, Emma Bickel and Haley Autterson.
Cash won a match at the Fargo Nationals. Moore is a freshman who has attended everything possible, Davis said. Rogers’ work ethic and athleticism could be a difference this year. Bickel and Autterson have been dedicated this summer.
