Harrison Central wrestling rebuilding with eye on improvement

Harrison Central High wrestling coach Bill Bryant knows what likely lies ahead for his team this season.

The Huskies will be young, they're not the biggest bunch physically, nor do they have a lot of experience.

But Bryant also knows that success on the mat doesn't necessarily mean wins and losses, and that what he sees from his squad in 2005 isn't what he'll see come tournament time.

“We will have a few kids that will excel (but) we will be very small," Bryant said. "We have a few kids that have not wrestled before, we have a couple kids that only have a year or two experience. So we are going over a lot of basic stuff right now just trying to give them a foundation to become successful by the time the season ends. 

"We will probably take a few lumps early on with kids getting into the right weight classes and due to inexperience," he added. "We have like 12 kids and have yet to have them all in the room at the same time. Some due to a school trip to Boston, couple kids had doctor appointments. One is dealing with a death in the family and we pray for him and his family as they go through this time.” 

Bryant said Knox McKibben will be the leadoff wrestler at 103 and that freshman Aiden Hensley is poised for a successful year as the Huskies, with wrestlers in 12 of the 14 weight classes, prepare to open the season Dec. 5 at Smithville for a weekend tournament.

Varsity wrestlers include seniors Andrew Cox, Brennan Engstrom and Jaden Harris and junior Cameron Fulton.

The rest of the roster includes sophomores Cael Bryant, Aiden Colgan, Jacob Kreptowski, Noah Marbais and McKibben, while the freshman Hensley is joined by classmates Brody McCabe and Alex Riester.

Also noted by Bryant was interest in the sport from some young girls at the junior high level, and he's working with junior high coach Drew Case to find tournaments for the girls. If interest continues, Harrison Central may form a girls team at the high school.

Joining Bryant to help assist with coaching duties are Rich McKinney and Zach McKibben, while Joe Thomas, Tony Crothers and Stan Bittinger will continue working with the team as well. Drew Case will continue to run the junior high program with Matt Cowser assisting.

Junior High wrestlers include eighth-graders Landon Cummings, Jaxxen Ferrell, Lane Hibbits, Caden Jenkins, Nelson Lan, Azaria Linderman, Bentley Manbeck, Rage Moreland, Kale Sproull and Lavon Sturgeon. The seventh-graders out for the sport include Alex Byington, Corbhyn Coen, Landon Coffman, Isaiah Gotschall, Jace Monroe, Brayden Moore, Zaila Morehead, Steven Renner, Jordan Simpson, Logan Stephens and Jordan Tharp.

The junior high open its season Dece. 6 at the Buckeye Local Tournament.