After winning the regional tournament last weekend, the wrestling team qualified a total of 10 out of their 13 varsity wrestlers for the state tournament. The team qualified all four seniors for state, which senior wrestler Drake Yost considers to be rare for the East team to do. For six of the 10 qualified for state, this will be their first time competing at the state tournament. Senior Michael Aldrich is the only returning state placer, who got sixth place last year.
Today at 2 p.m., the team will head to Wichita, KS, for the state tournament. The state tournament is a two-day event, with competition starting today, and finishing up all day tomorrow.
“It means a lot, I’ve been waiting for this tournament all year,” Yost said. “I’m really excited to see how well the team does and individually I’m ready to mount and execute, and do the best I can in my last tournament.”
Senior Mike Bamford shares Yosts’ excitement, and has specific individual goals for his last state tournament.
“My expectation is to get in the picture, which is the top six, and my goal is to get on the podium, which means placing in the top four,” Bamford said. “It’s all about winning that first match, and last year I lost my first match so I’m coming back with a chip on my shoulder this year.”
The following are the ten wrestlers that will compete at state starting today, along with their weight classes.
106- freshman Dane Erickson
113- freshman Oliver Broce
126- freshman Billy Sellers
145- senior Michael Aldrich
152- senior Mike Bamford
160- senior Drake Yost
170- junior William Schmidt
182- junior Issac Schmidt
195- sophomore Justin Schuman
220- senior Jack Carter