The boys wrestling team wrapped up their season with a 24th-place finish at state, marking the end of a year filled with hard work and growth. It wasn’t an easy season—injuries and inexperience threw some challenges their way, but they never backed down. The younger wrestlers made great strides, and there’s a lot of promise for the future. The seniors gave it everything they had in their final season, leading by example and leaving it all on the mat.
Even with the ups and downs, the team showed they could compete at a high level. Looking ahead, there’s a lot to be excited about. They’ve laid a solid foundation this year, and it’s clear the team is headed in the right direction.
There are a lot of positives to take away from the state championship meet. The team doubled the number of state qualifiers from last year, sending six wrestlers this season compared to just three last year. Only two of those six were seniors, showing just how much youth and potential there is on the team. Now those younger wrestlers have even more motivation to come back stronger and improve for next season.
Some of the top wrestlers for the team were freshman Mason Bruber, who scored 3.5 points, sophomore Charlie Hall, who scored 3.0 team points, and junior Gable Jernigan, who also scored 3.0 team points. With each of these wrestlers having at least one season left, they hope to add on to this performance next season, and continue to improve.
Head coach Michael Jernigan reflected on the season, and the performance the team had at state.
“I was very pleased with the way the team ended the season. The great thing is, four of our five guys that we have back next year scored points for us,” Jernigan said. “It’s huge having multiple guys win matches the first or second time they’ve been to the state tournament. So how they ended could be a potentially huge boost for us going into next year. With all the guys we have returning, and the guys that won matches at state.”
Jernigan also touched on how the team could improve, and what they could have done differently.
“The big thing about the state tournament is that you want to win your first match. Winning your first match makes things better for later in the tournament,” Jernigan said. “As a team, we could have done better. But I’m still super proud of what the guys did. All of them came back the next day, made weight, wrestled, won the next match, and like I said, earned team points.”
Jernigan also spoke about how the finish this year compared to his expectations that he had at the beginning of the season.
“Our expectations from the beginning of the year to the end were completely 180 degrees, completely different from what we thought at the beginning of the season,” Jernigan said. “We had worries at the beginning of the season, but everything worked out in the end. Our younger guys improved, and became a lot better than what they were at the start of the season. We fixed any issues with wrestlers, and any weight issues. It was a collaboration of everyone coming together, and understanding that the beginning of the season is tough, and the way the kids responded made it all come together. And I am super proud of how our team did.”
The team‘s durability this season was evident in the ability to improve and mature under pressure. Even though they struggled in the early stages of the season, they continued moving forward, individually and as a team. Their dedication was evident in how they reacted at state, where a large number of first-ever-at-state wrestlers were able to have some victories and contribute to the team in general. The camaraderie and friendship of the seniors created a friendly environment where the younger wrestlers were at ease, and that is what will carry the team into the future years.
In the coming seasons, the foundation set this year will definitely be a launching pad for even greater things. With many young wrestlers returning, there is a clear path ahead. The experience gained this year, coupled with the regained enthusiasm, is likely to make the team stronger next season. The mixture of young and old gives the team the best combination to fight for the top in the coming years. With many wrestlers just getting started, this team is expected to be competitive next year, and go head to head with some of the best teams in the state.
