After a competitive season last year in the 4A division, Elmira High School’s wrestling team is ready to dominate in 3A.
Practices started a week before the official season, and after the mock meet the team had on Tuesday, wrestlers and coaches alike are feeling confident in the team’s capabilities.
When asked about his confidence in the season based on practices, head coach Justin Peeler said, “Yeah, I mean, the cool part is we went from 17 total wrestlers to 27, so we got a lot of experienced kids practicing with new ones, and they’re all doing great. I think it’ll be a good season.”
Summer McKeen, a junior wrestler, gave her input on the team this year.
“I feel like we’re gonna be good. We have a lot of new people who are doing well so far,” she said. “I feel like we’ll do well this season.”
In the mock meet, the wrestling team split into two teams, purple vs. gold. Purple took the win with 39 to 36 points.
Every match was competitive and each wrestler grappled with ferocity and kept fighting till time ran out, hopefully setting a precedent for the rest of the season.
With their first official meet of the season out of the way, the wrestlers are prepping for a battle, and after a season like last year where nine wrestlers went to state, they can bet on getting one from attending schools.
“I think the big difference is, being down at 3A, the competition will be different, and if we get nine to state again that would be great. I want to get some girls to state this season too,” Peeler said.
The first event of the season was the Perry Burlison Tournament at Cascade High School last Saturday. Their next meet will be at North Bend on Friday and Saturday.
The first event the program has at home will be on Jan. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
