WHS matmen have experience; Titans need numbers
The wrestling teams at Wooster and Triway come in to the 2023-24 season with some things to prove. For Wooster it’s whether a veteran team can take the next step. For Triway it’s whether a step can be taken at all; the Titans are thin in experience and in numbers.
Wooster
Wooster last year finished fifth place in the nine-team Ohio Cardinal Conference. They did not have an athlete advance to the state meet.
This year they’ll look to rectify both of those finishes and will rely on a veteran team to do it. While Wooster had no long postseason runs last season among its deep class of current seniors, the Generals bring back seven of the 10 athletes who placed in the OCC a year ago.
That group is led by senior heavyweight Jayson Deeds and senior Dylan Hudson, both of whom finished third in the conference last season. Seniors CJ Furlong and Grant Hoffman and junior Julian Franklin each placed fourth in the league.
Senior Evan Patton and sophomore Thomas Oney, who placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the OCC, also return, along with sophomores Vance Halloran and Nate Miller. Freshman Avery Tyrell will be counted on, as will sophomore Brooklyn Wade, who placed second in the state last season while wrestling for Washington Court House.
“Our team will be led by a senior class that returns five varsity letterwinners,” Wooster coach Brian Teter said. “This group of wrestlers has been together for a long time, and we are excited to see what they can accomplish in their last season as a General.
“Our strength will be our experience. We have nine returning letterwinners that will be in our 14-man lineup. This group works hard and has put in a lot of time training in the offseason.”
Triway
Triway finished eighth out of eight a year go in the Principals Athletic Conference. Conference runner-up Kannon Thoman was their top finisher. Zane Carr (fourth in the PAC) also graduated. Dyrke Smith, who placed third in the conference last year, was not included in the Titans’ preseason information.
That leaves Jagger Hyatt (fourth in the conference) as the Titans’ lone placer. The Titans lacked depth a year ago — they had six empty weight classes at the league tournament — and that could be a problem again.
“We don’t have a lot of wrestlers out this year,” Triway coach Jason Duvall said. “So we don’t have a lot of guys to push each other. And I believe competition in the room is the catalyst for change and improvement.”
That doesn’t mean the Titans won’t be a factor in things ahead of them.
“I think we have some guys that are looking to turn things around here. I think that motivation and an attacking offensive style of wrestling will be our strength,” Duvall said. “I believe we have some guys that will place in the PAC 7 tournament and can qualify for the district tournament, but it all depends on working hard and staying healthy.”