Wrestling team enters season confidently

Wildcat wrestling season officially begins tomorrow with back-to-back home action on Thursday and Friday. Coming back from  a record-breaking season that saw the team finish fourth at state (third in team duals), the team is not just looking for a repeat of last year’s success, it wants to top it.
“I think our goals are higher even. I think we can do better, and I think we can get higher on the podium. I told them right away that’s where we need to be,” said head coach Jared Webster.
On Thursday, the team faces off against Gregory, Hot Springs and Harding County in the Custer Duals, which begins at 5 p.m. at the armory. It will be the first meet of their season.
On Friday, the excitement continues with the Bill Young Invitational beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day.
The boys team is about the same size as usual, but there is some growth for the girls team, which head coach Jared Webster is happy with.
“It’s just gonna get bigger and bigger, which will be great and make the sport grow,” said Webster.
Among the key returners are defending state champion Trey Weiss, Parker Noem (second at state), Tyler Trant (third), Jessica Mckenney (fourth), Ryder Bailey (sixth), Kai Rusch (eighth) and Riley Scott (eighth).
For the first part of the season Webster anticipates good results, although many wrestlers aren’t yet at the weights they would like to be and are still on a weight descent program. By the end of the season though, the team is expected to do well.
“There are a lot of kids that could be on the top of the podium this year. Our seniors are very strong, very athletic—just a lot of talent, and I expect high things out of them,” said Webster.