By Chris Parker
El Dorado Springs wrestling has a new head coach in Daniel Stantorf this season. There are no returning state qualifiers for the Bulldogs heading into the season.
Junior Trey Graves came up just one match short of a state qualification at 285 pounds last year. He will look to earn that state qualification at 285 pounds this season.
“He is incredibly determined, quick on his feet, and strong. He fought for his place, and that ultimately lead to his success,” Stantorf said. “He doesn’t want it (missing out on state) to happen again. He got as close as you possibly can without making it and he used that to push himself to get better.”
Four freshmen that were on the district team last year return this season as sophomores. Josh Haberle has put in a strong off-season according to Stantorf.
“Josh Haberle is the one who stands out the most. He has really dedicated himself this offseason and were expecting big things out of him,” Stantorf said.
Two seniors in Hunter Boyles and Duane Perkins also return.
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“Hunter Boyles is a senior who is expected to be our 145 this season. He comes off a good season being ranked sixth at one point and led the team in take downs last year. He has had a great offseason participating in several camps and tournaments preparing himself for the upcoming season and will be a huge part of our success,” Stantorf said. “Another senior we are expecting big things from is Duane Perkins. He is expected to be our 152. He also comes off a successful year where he wrestled up last year due to seniors being in the weight classes closer to his weight.”
Stantorf will have a quartet of wrestlers who will see varsity time this year.
“We have four newcomers who are expected to factor into the varsity lineup. Blayze McCullough freshman is expected to wrestle at 106. Haiden Overton is a senior expected to start at 132. Ethan Parshall senior is expected to start at 220. Lastly Jordan Gallette senior is expected to start at 285. Gallette saw some varsity time at 285 last season but missed out on the district tournament with Trey Graves being at 285,” Stantorf said.
“I am setting the goals pretty high coming into this young program. This first goal is winning the conference championship. Last year the team took second at the conference tournament. Although not an easy goal by any means we feel we have a team to compete for it. The second and third goals are to do something the El Dorado Springs wrestling program has never done and send more than one wrestler to state and place at the district tournament,” Stantorf said.
