The 2018 Wildcat wrestlers are from left, front row, Malachi Robbins, Ethen Wagy, Gabe Hansen, Tarren Riffle, Steven Palm, Casey Clark and Drew Wykoff; second row, Randle Riffle, Shawn Swank, Trevor Gilbert, Skyler Cowgill, Jed Buckingham, Hayden Pacha, Dylan Thompson, Caleb Isler, Phoenix Dabies and Chelsea Foos; third row, Dylan Reese, Preston Wood, Jeremiah Pickens, Crower Davies, Cameron McGovern, Chris Cox-Wislon, Alec O’Reilly, Kane Beltz, Jeremiah Brill and head coach Garret Andrews.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The North Union wrestling team has high expectations this season, not only for individual goals, but also for a shot at the state duals. Head coach Garret Andrews believes NU has the best chance of making it to the state duals tournament.
“I feel like we could have one of our best dual teams, because this is one of those years where kids just kind of fit,” he said. “Last year, we had four or five kids all fitting for one spot and this year, everybody is kind of spaced out and I think we will fill every weight class.”
Not only will they fill the 14 weight classes, but will fill them with talent that Andrews said will be very competitive.
NU didn’t compete in the state duals due to a lack of wrestlers in all weight classes. That required the Cats to forfeit several classes, which put them behind.
“I think this year is going to be one of those years where we can make it a little farther in the state duals,” Andrews said. “Last year, we didn’t even compete because we were already giving up 30 point to forfeits.”
Andrews has loaded the early season schedule with many dual events.
“Early on in the season, we have scheduled a lot of dual meet tournaments because that is something I thought we could compete well in,” he said. “That makes it more of a team atmosphere and we’re not just fighting for a spot on the podium.”
Andrews will look to 25 wrestlers to fill 14 spots.
NU has a mix of experience and inexperience this season. The Cats have eight seniors and several returning wrestlers with varsity experience. That is balanced by 10 freshmen with little experience. Andrews said it will be a challenge, but he believes he can bring the freshmen along quickly.
“Practice-wise, we’ve got to gauge it early on and bring those young kids along,” he said. “A few of the freshmen are first-year wrestlers, so these first couple of weeks are going to be a challenge to try and catch up.
“We have really good wrestlers at the top end and some very inexperienced wrestlers at the other.”
Along with high hopes at the state duals, the Wildcats are also returning two state individual qualifiers in Dylan Thompson and Chris Cox-Wilson.
Now that experience under their belts, the pair would like to move from qualifying to placing this season.
“They have their individual goals of placing at state this year,” said Andrews. “However, I said a lasting impact would be the leadership they could provide to the rest of the team with a young team behind them.
“That is their bigger challenge… stepping into that leadership role and so far, they have done well in that role.”
To make a return trip to the state tournament, the Wildcats will have to work their way through a new group of wrestlers as they make the jump from the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference to the Central Buckeye Conference.
Andrews said the CBC has some solid wrestling schools that will test his team.
“With the league changing, not just Graham, but there are other teams in the CBC that are really good,” Andrews said. “Indian Lake has had several state qualifiers. Urbana is good, London is good and Bellefontaine had a couple of state qualifiers last year.
“Overall, the league tournament at the end of the year is going to be a battle, but we have some kids that can compete.”
With solid numbers coming back this year, Andrews has high expectations.
“Right now, my expectations are higher than they have been because of what we have returning,” he said. “We also have more wrestlers than we have had in some time.
“It gives everyone competition in the room.”
The Wildcats will open their season Dec. 5 with a dual meet against Ridgedale.