By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For 17 years, Brian Pyck has poured a ton of energy into making wrestling matter at Central High School in downtown Springfield.
That’s meant spending a lot of time, like so many coaches across the area, building a youth program.
And now look what’s ahead as the Bulldogs head into this winter. You bet Pyck is excited.
“We have seen an increase in numbers with a record number of wrestlers attending our offseason training,” Pyck said. “We hope to increase numbers for the wrestling season and look forward to traveling for tournaments.”
Projected roster
Pyck anticipates 40 wrestlers in the room this season, with eight returning starters. That includes two state qualifiers on the boys side, and one girl.
Look for junior Jinx Lashley at 113 pounds, followed by juniors Lucas Gideon at 120, Jalen Ndongi at 126, Cohen Bane at 132 and Weston Jones at 144.
In the upper weights, senior Gaven Bremenkamp is at 160 pounds, with sophomore Braden Taylor at 170 and junior Josh Nelson at 220.
A number of weight classes are there for the taking. And while that may mean the Bulldogs concede some points in duals, the ultimate measure of their team will be on the growth of individuals – especially what they might achieve at the end of the season.
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Bremenkamp should draw a lot of attention. He placed in the Ozark Conference Tournament and was a Super 32 qualifier this past summer in Greensboro, N.C. He also qualified for the Fargo National Championships in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.
“He had several wins over some top competitors which has helped his confidence, and he is a lot stronger in the weight room since last season,” Pyck said. “His goal is to wrestle in college and this season is looking great for him after completing some awesome offseason competitions.”
He’s not the only one to watch. Gideon and Lashley advanced to the state tournament last year, too. Both won Ozark Conference individual titles.
“They have also been competing and working hard in the offseason,” Pyck said. “They both have goals of medaling at state and looking to have a great year.”
Those three have wrestled for the youth USA Wrestling Bulldogs Club team at Central High School, giving Pyck reason to be optimistic.
Sleepers?
Don’t sleep on Bane.
“He has wrestled a lot this summer and competed in several tournaments with wins over some top wrestlers,” Pyck said, noting Bane recently placed in the Fall Brawl tournament at Staley High School. “He has worked very hard on the mat and in the weight room in the offseason and has goals of qualifying for state.”
Girls team
It remains to be seen the participation numbers that turn out for Central, but there’s at least one girls wrestler who could make waves this winter.
That’s Jaidyn Pohlsander, a sophomore who has been heavily involved in the local kids club. She, too, was a state qualifier last year.
“She has the goal of medaling at state this year and has been training, competing and attending camps this summer,” Pyck said. “She has been a leader on the girls team and has recruited several more girls from Central to join our team this year.”
