Consider it the wrestling facility of dreams.
Carthage built it, and more have come.
The new spacious 70-by-70-foot wrestling room –– part of a $10 million construction project for a multipurpose athletics complex that opened in July –– has resulted in a spike in participation numbers for the Tigers’ wrestling team for the 2017-18 season.
With enough mat space for 25 10-foot circles and a designated workout station comprising treadmills and auxiliary bikes, the room is able to easily meet the needs of a team that has nearly doubled the size of its roster to 58 wrestlers since last season.
“The most we’ve had before this season is 38 (wrestlers),” 16th-year Carthage coach Kenneth Brown said. “The new room definitely doesn’t hurt when it comes to getting our numbers up, but we have outstanding junior high coaches who recruit kids from the hallways, too. So it’s a combination of both of those things.”
The facility boasts one sizable wall that draws attention to Carthage branding and a photo-collage centerpiece displaying images of former Tiger wrestlers. Adjacent to that is a banner wall that honors past championship teams and individuals.
Brown and his wife, Crystal, helped organize the room with assistants John Petticrew and Nate Kelly in the months leading up to its opening.
“We wanted to make it something the program could be proud of and something that left an impression, and I’d say we got exactly that,” Brown said.
The largest participation turnout in program history includes four returning state qualifiers: two-time medalist Dalen Moore (126 pounds), Nick Norbury (132), Corben Pugh (152) and Dillon Lancaster (182).
Moore, a junior, finished third at state last season at 120 and set the program’s single-season near-fall record with 64 to go along with 133 takedowns. His practice partner, Norbury, is a senior and two-time state qualifier.
“We’re leaning on our veteran guys to show the younger ones what it means to be successful in this sport,” Brown said. “Norbury is honestly emerging as a leader of this team right now. He brings the right attitude at practice every day, and these other guys can see that and learn from it.”
Pugh, a senior, is also a two-time state qualifier while senior Lancaster notched his first appearance at state last season after stepping away from the sport in his sophomore year.
“We’ve got a fairly even number of experienced guys and inexperienced guys,” Brown said. “Guys like Dagan Sappington (106/113), Brandon Crow (160) and William Prince (195/220) could have big years if they continue to push themselves.”
Carthage, which finished 11th as a team at the Class 3 state championship last year, will also receive expected varsity matches from Kolbe Jones (113/120), Tanner Russow (120), Anderson Ixcol (138), Daniel Schuur (145), Victor Salazar (152), Trulyn Kendrick (1600, Ymbar Polanco (170), Caleb Triplett (182), Ian Ketchum (195) and Brener Ocana (285).
“For our seasoned guys, the big thing is to continue getting better and get to where we were last season and beyond,” Brown said. “The younger guys have to buy into the system, and they have to understand that the things we’re teaching them aren’t just a quick fix –– we’re showing them things that will develop them and make them better wrestlers.”
The Tigers are off to a 2-1 start in dual meets this season, having suffered a 49-27 loss to Carl Junction before beating Columbus 60-18 and Miami 63-15 on Tuesday in Miami.
Carthage is back in action this Saturday in the Farmington (Mo.) Duals, where they’ll square off with Pacific, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Warrenton and Farmington.
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