WHS athlete signs with Evangel

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Young wrestlers look to step up in 2020-21

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  • Above, Weatherford senior soccer player Addy Hicks signed to play college soccer at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. Pictured, from left are her parents, Nate and Jolie Hicks, her siblings, Brooklyn and Dylon Hicks, and head coach, Delydia Givens. Josh Jennings/WDN
  • Weatherford youth wrestler Channing Bowman holds up his winning bracket and stands behind his trophy, after he won the 2020 World of Wrestling Kickoff Classic in the 8U 43-pound division. Provided
  • Weatherford youth wrestlers recently participiated in a tournament in Kingfisher. Wrestlers pictured are the ones who placed during the tournament. Provided
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Replacing three seniors with more than 10 years of experience may be challenge for Weatherford’s wrestling team, however coach Corey Duncan said the 2020-21 team will be the deepest he’s had.

“We lose a good senior class and that presents some unique challenges. Between Mike (Hixson), Cody (Seright) and Chandlar (Perzanowski) you have 10 years of varsity experience between them all. That is tough to replace, however I think we have probably one of the deepest teams in my tenure. So you really replace those wrestlers with more of a balanced team. Which is what i think we have,” Duncan said.

This team will feature younger and lower-weight wrestlers who have stepped up previously to win their matches.

“Plus we need some of our younger guys who have had varsity experience to step up become leaders and compete hard and win matches for us early in the dual. Because you do not have the steady senior leadership in the upper weights which we have been fortunate to have the last couple of years. This team has the chance to do that with filling most of the weight classes this year instead of giving up 5-6 forfeits this year,” Duncan said.

Weatherford’s wrestling team open the regular season Thursday night at home against Geary. The junior high team will take the mat 6 p.m. and the varsity team will begin 7 p.m.

“I am pretty excited about the upcoming season, we return a lot of guys and the guys have been working hard since August and ready to get going. We have an experienced team, but our goal remains the same, that is to get as many guys as we can to the state tournament at the end of the year. We have two returning state qualifiers from our four last year so we are looking to get them back and plus some more wrestlers as well,” Duncan said.

“Wrestlers we are expecting to do big things for us are Kale Visnieski and Izeaha Freeborn, who both are returning state qualifiers. We are looking for them to not only get back to the state tournament but be in contention to place at it as well,” Duncan said.

Some other Eagle wrestlers may be able to have a big year for the team.

“Wrestlers that we are looking to have a breakout year for us are Dawson Baca, Brock Conkling, Alvis Bryson, Ethan Bracken, Barrett King, Isaiah Royal, Eli Soto. We as coaches feel that if they can work hard and continue to improve this year they can put themselves in contention to be at the state tournament,” Duncan said.

“The great thing about those guys is the fact they come in everyday and work hard and want to do well themselves and its one of the reasons why I feel they can have a breakout year. Those guys, we are asking to step up for the team and contribute and be solid leaders for us,” Duncan said.

With wrestling, being a contact sport, this season presents a challenge with COVID-19.

“COVID-19 presents a unique challenge, but we have taken some precautions to help combat it. But we are still going to train hard and do our best to combat it,” Duncan said.

This season, Weatherford will have three district duals with Clinton January 14, Cache January 19 and Elk City January 25.

“We have a lot of big duals this year. There is not going to be an easy night for us day in and day out. You have three big district duals. Cache is the defending district champion and will be tough dual, but luckily that will be at home and be a good match. Clinton is one which is a big rivalry and I expect them to be back and tough again so that will be a dog fight in the Tornado Dome. Elk CIty will be vastly improved this year and it will be dual we are going to have to bring it, that will be a home dual so that helps,” Duncan said.

Outside of district duals, the remaining schedule will be challenging as well.

“Elgin and El Reno are going to be good tests for us at the beginning of the year and then Yukon and Moore will be good challenges for us heading into regionals. We have a good tournament schedule. MidAmerica Nationals is a good early season test, we want to repeat as the Max Dippel Champions, Cushing always is a gauntlet, Tuttle will be a good regional preview and then a good tune up at the Clinton Tournament,” Duncan said.

“I am really looking forward to seeing how this team can develop throughout the year. This team has the chance to be tough. With being able to fill out a lineup and the team has plenty of experience and depth, they have the ability to do big things this year. But it is not going to come easy to us. We are going to have to work hard every day and we are going to have to compete with the unrelenting intensity to give us a chance. If the team does that then the sky limit for this group of young men. I am looking forward to it and grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.”