Meeker Cowboy wrestling is in its first week of having a full team at practice, just in time for their first weekend of competition. The Cowboys bring back five state placers to this year’s team: Clay Crawford, Cade Blunt, Trevor Crooks, Brendan Clatterbaugh and Judd Harvey.
“I am really excited for this year,” said Harvey. “We are bringing back numerous big scorers who will pave the way to getting that first-place team title at the state tournament.”
“This year I am looking to continue sharpening myself as a person,” commented Clatterbaugh, “and to motivate the younger classmen, we will show support and encourage them though academics and wrestling on our road to winning a state championship.”
The team is led by head coach JC Watt and his staff, Carl Padilla, Tyrel Turner, Stryker Lane, Dr. Justin Grant, Trevor Grant, and Kurt Blunt.
“We are so fortunate to have such a great coaching staff helping us,” commented Harvey, “what they bring to our room not just in their skill and qualifications, but their drive and work ethic rivals what you find or is even better then some colleges.”
“We are looking forward to a great season this year,” commented Watt, “we have 27 kids in the room and they have been working hard.”
The team brings back eight seniors this year Reed Goedert, Coy Richardson, Tanner Goodwin, Jacob Blazon, Clatterbaugh, Harvey, Hayden Shults, and Noah LeBlanc.
“One of my major goals this year is to be in the top five at the state tournament,” commented Shults. “As an upperclassman I plan to keep a hard working positive attitude in the wrestling room and at tournaments, a large majority of wrestling is mental. So I believe motivating my teammates into confidence will help them best.”
The Meeker wrestling room is stacked with excellent wrestlers but no more so than at 175 pounds and up. There are five wrestlers, all ranked, in the top four weights, Blunt, Clatterbaugh, Shults, Harvey and Leblanc.
The beginning of the year is about setting goals for the season.
“For myself, I want to go undefeated this season,” commented Harvey who went 33-2 last year, and earned his second state title and third trip to the podium at nationals.
“As for the team, the goal we have set is to fill in those spots that are open along with bringing the same energy back again as we had last year.”
“I’m also really excited for this year,” began Crawford. “My personal goal is to place at more tournaments and at the end of the year get my spot at the top of the podium at state.”
Crawford went 31-15 last year and placed fifth at state as a sophomore.
“As a team we hope to win the regional and state tournament and make each other better throughout the season,” said Crawford.
Crawford has been wrestling with incoming freshman Koy Webber, who is a new Cowboy this year and had a successful middle school career.
“Being an upperclassman is definitely a big role, especially for the younger kids who look up to you,” commented Crawford. “Webber is a very good wrestler and I hope that I can teach him a couple things and be a good role model for him and others.”
“My goal is to outwork everyone in my weight class,” said Blunt who finished his sophomore year 25-5 taking second place at state and topping it off with a seventh-place finish at nationals. “Taking a loss in the finals is something I am definitely going to try and defend this year; I am going to push myself as much as I can.”
The Cowboys split into two groups this weekend. JV will be in Olathe and the varsity will be at the annual CMU duals, both events start at 9 a.m.
