After posting a 6-3 regular-season record, the MUS wrestling team looks forward to the region dual matches where the top two teams advance to the state duals in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Led by coaches Tommy Harrison and Jonathan Simpson, this young team has battled some good competition and gained much experience as it heads into the region duals, which take place January 26 at MUS.
The Owls only have one senior starter, Wes Phillips, who actually did not begin the season at his 125-pound class until mid-January because of a kneecap injury. Sophomore Andrew Hoff filled in for him and participated in several matches before Phillips' return.
The remainder of the team is underclassman, including seven freshman starters. Juniors include Matt Cohen at 112 pounds, Preston Blankenship at 171, Noah Randall at 189, and Blake Lindsay, who finished a solid fifth in the prestigious Black Horse Invitational, at 215 pounds.
Sophomore starters include 130-pound Matt Rutherford and Andrew Hooser, who competes in the unlimited-weight division. Hooser had a sixth place at the Black Horse and followed that performance up with an outstanding third place in the Coca-Cola Tournament at CBHS, one of the toughest and most competitive invitationals in the South.
But the freshman class is really remarkable with their skill level and savvy at such an early age. Tom Sampson comes in at 103 pounds, while Nelson Rainey (119), Josh Hall (135), Preston Dennis (140), Sloan Abernathy (145), Hays Doan (152), and Warren Grimm (160) make up the other starters. The coaches love the participation and growth of these young guys as they have fit in well with the older members of the team.
The six victories include a win over Germantown, a team that the Owls have not defeated in many years. The losses have come against CBHS, Houston, and Kirby -- teams which will contend in their respective state duals.
Yet Coach Harrison remains so optimistic that this team not only will reach their goals but also exceed them.
"Our goal is to go to the dual state championship," says Harrison. "We have had a fun season-- lots of youth--a very close-knit team with a great deal of locker-room leadership."
To reach that goal of going to state, the Owls need to finish in the top two positions in region. With CBHS fielding a very strong team, MUS and Briarcrest look like the two teams to be competing for that second spot. If MUS gets one of the two spots, the state duals come one week later in Clarksville.
Regardless of the outcome, the coaches have been pleased with this season. Some youth and depth have emerged, and those two aspects are necessary to produce enthusiasm and get the program where it needs to be--competing for state titles.