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PREP WRESTLING: Carthage returns six state qualifiers and bevy of experience in 2021-22

By:
Lucas Davis

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage wrestling returns 11 varsity members, including six state qualifiers from a year ago, to give the Tigers a bevy of experience to rely on as they head into the 2021-22 season.

“Our goals this season are the same as every season,” Carthage coach Kenny Brown said. “We want to continue to improve throughout the course of the season to give us the best opportunity to challenge for a district championship and set ourselves up for a run during the state tournament.”

Even though the Tigers graduated four seniors from last year’s 9-1 squad, Carthage is back with enough experience to expect just as good a season as a year ago, if not better.

Carthage’s list of returners are highlighted by seniors Eli Sneed (138 pounds) and Braxdon Tate (145), junior Grey Petticrew (152), Davion King (160) and Luke Gall (195) and sophomore Bradyn Tate (120 pounds).

Sneed had a 35-11 record last season, was the Central Ozark Conference champ and was a state qualifier, while Tate went 26-9 and was a state qualifier at 152 pounds.

“Eli really came into his own last year,” Brown said. “For the first time in high school, he pulled a little weight and was actually wrestling at a better weight class for his height. His wrestling took off and surprised quite a few kids.

“Braxdon wrestled up a weight class last year and at times, struggled with the strength of the larger kids coming down to 152. This year, he is planning on pulling down to 145. He is tall and his length gives his opponents a lot of trouble.”

King finished last season with a 40-6 record, was the district champ and finished fifth at the state tournament wrestling at 145 pounds, while Gall was 32-6 as the district champion at 182 pounds, qualifying for the state tournament. Petticrew went 15-12 at 160 pounds.

“Davion placed fifth last year at state and, unfortunately, ran into the state champion in quarterfinals,” Brown said of his junior class. “Davion has worked on putting on weight for football this summer and will be bumping up to 160 this year. … There’s not much I can say about Luke that hasn’t been said about him in the football articles this fall. He is a tremendous athlete and very dedicated. … Grey is another one of my boys who wrestled up from his natural weight class last year. He was a district finalist at 160, and we look for him to put up even better stats this season down at 152.”

Bradyn Tate finished with a 25-6 record last year as a freshman at 113 pounds. He was also a qualifier for the state tournament.

“Bradyn had a very consistent season for us last year,” Brown said. “Moving up a weight class, we are looking for more of the same with the hope of putting up more bonus-point wins with a year of varsity experience under his belt.”

Also expected to contribute at the varsity level this year are seniors Christian Brown (126 pounds), Brett Rockers (170/182; 19-10 record last year), Kanen Vogt (220; 22-7) and Cristian Salas (285), juniors Kip Castor (126; 21-21) and Gabe Lambeth (170-182) and sophomores Dylan Huntley (106; 8-8) and Josh Griffith (113; 16-4 at 106).

“Christian has been on JV the past three years and should finally be getting his chance in the varsity lineup,” Brown said. “He had a good camp this season and we are needing him to step up and produce like a senior. … Cristian Salas has been a 220 for the past three years. He has put on some weight over the past year and we need him to transition to the 285 role for us.”

Carthage opens the season with a dual at Carl Junction on Nov. 30.

“We should have another successful season,” Brown said. “We are going to be a very strong dual team with very minimal holes.”

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