The Joplin Eagles return five starters, including one Class 4 state qualifier, for the upcoming season in seniors Draven VanGilder, Drew VanGilder and Alex Short and juniors Johnny Williams and Johnathon Burke.
The Eagles graduated 182-pound Brayden Thomas and heavyweight Gunner Price, and their newcomers include freshman Andrew Snider and sophomores Brennan Washington and KeyShawn Peavler.
Joplin finished 7-8 overall in dual competition last season.
“We have the potential to be pretty good if we get strong leadership from our upperclassmen and our young guys and gals learn and grow up in a hurry,” Joplin’s fifth-year head coach Jeremy Finley said. “We have strong leadership from our senior class. The VanGilders do an excellent job of bringing energy everyday into the practice room and get everyone going. Alex Short has been involved with wrestling for a very long time. We are looking for him to turn the corner this season.”
Draven VanGilder, an outstanding three-sport star fresh off a senior season in football when he made 145 total tackles (98 solo, 47 assist) in 10 games, qualified for state at 195 pounds and posted an 18-11 overall record last season.
Price was Joplin’s other state qualifier last season, and he managed a pair of wins before bowing out in the third consolation round.
Draven’s twin brother Drew, who rushed for nearly 400 yards and scored five touchdowns at running back his senior season, finished 14-8 last season and just a couple victories shy of also qualifying for state at 170.
Short finished 11-18 overall at 126 and Burke 14-15 overall at 145.
There will be less-experienced wrestlers surrounding the five returning starters.
“We will have to fill a few varsity weight classes with some underclassmen,” Finley said. “In order for us to be successful, they must grow up and adapt to varsity high school wrestling.
“Like any year, we hope to get as many kids in the room as possible. Usually if we can get them to show up, they will stay. We need as many as we can get. For us to be successful, we must obtain and keep kids interested and focused throughout the year. We have plenty of athletes walking the halls of JHS that do nothing in the winter. We need to turn these athletes into wrestlers.”
The Eagles open their season on Tuesday at home against Webb City and their schedule includes tournaments at Bentonville West, Columbus, Republic, and Columbia Hickman.
Webb City hosts the Central Ozark Tournament on Jan. 28.
District and state take place in February.
