"Then we have several other guys, like I said, who are working very hard and setting their own example through their work ethic."
"Right now I think those two will be the ones our guys look to to fill that leadership role this year," Hurst said.
Then Taylor, competing at 120 a year ago, went 17-17 and advanced to the sectional tournament. Carter missed most of last season with an injury but was 31-15 as a sophomore at 138. Hurst said two wrestlers he expects to take over those leadership roles are senior Brantley Carter and sophomore Colt Taylor. "So hopefully we'll have some guys who can step into those roles and help these younger kids for a great season." "Replacing those guys and their leadership, it will be huge," Hurst said. Ott took fourth place and finished his senior campaign with a 29-8 record at the 195-pound weight class, while Carranco, who's now wrestling at Central Missouri, placed sixth at state to cap a 30-10 season at 182. Ott and Carranco were both state medalists a season ago. The Cardinals did graduate six starters from last season in Jacob Ott, Roger Carranco, Jackson Ward, Bobby Pearish, Brayden Hollingsworth and Rafe Mackey. "This is also probably one of the first years where all of them have had some mat time before their high school career started. "The guys we already have in the room are working hard," Hurst said.
17-18) we'll have everybody ready to rock and roll."īy the time everything is in full order, Hurst expects to have around 45 wrestlers on this year's roster with a healthy mixture of new and familiar faces. Hopefully by the Harrisonville Tournament (Dec. "Once we get those football players after their state championship game, we'll give them a little bit of time to get their injuries and stuff taken care of. But the more matches we get under our belt, the improvements are going to come. It's evident we're not going to be a dual team to start things out.