11/29/2009 6:00:00 AM Depth, experience boost KHS wrestling team Six returning grapplers, effort in practice please Clor; opener Wednesday
SHAWN BYRNE/Miner
Kevin Davies, top, and Tyler Thofson grapple during Saturday's practice at Kingman High. The Bulldogs open the 2009-10 season against Millennium and Camelback at 5 p.m. Wednesday at KHS. Click here to purchase this photo
KINGMAN - A program on the rise has to have personnel, and the numbers for this year's version of the Kingman High wrestling team are evidence the Bulldogs should continue to march forward.
"Our numbers are up with at least two wrestlers in every weight," said fourth-year KHS coach Brandon Clor. "It's nice. Two years ago we only had one heavyweight. Now, we're actually pretty deep."
The Bulldogs have come into the wrestling season in better shape then recent years and more are grappling close to their natural weights.
"No one is just going through the motions and just surviving," Clor said. "They're learning and getting better at wrestling."
KHS went 14-19 last season, and Clor has six wrestlers returning who he expects to have successful seasons. Senior Kevin Davies at 130 pounds, senior William Bibbus (135), sophomore Patrick Sides (145), senior Brett Nailor (160), senior Jeremy Alder (189) and junior Keith Milkie (215) will be looked upon to lead KHS on the scoreboard.
"Last year, it felt like the Stemkoski show at times," Clor said, "but now, it's the Kingman Bulldogs show. We should have three or four guys walking away with places at tournaments."
William Stemkoski, who graduated last spring, led the Bulldogs with a 31-2 record and was the No. 1 seed in the 215 class at state before he finished fourth.
Alder leads
veterans
Alder returns to the 189 class after posting a 3-2 record at last year's state tournament. The top five finishers from last season have since graduated, and Clor thinks Alder is positioned to make a move this season.
"He's been wrestling well. He went to camp over the summer and is more technically savvy," the coach said. "He's ready to go and chomping at the bit."
This is Milkie's third year on the team, but it will be his first when he'll wrestle against opponents his own weight.
"Two years ago he gave up 20 pounds and last year he gave up 70 pounds," Clor said. "He's given me problems that Stemkoski never did."
Davies had wrestled at 119 the last two years and spent a lot of his time concerned about making weight. Now, the team captain is much closer to his natural weight.
"I'm feeling pretty good not having to cut the weight," Davies said. "It's my last year of wrestling, so I should wrestle a million times better."
Clor is much happier with Davies at 130 rather than 119.
"Kevin is stronger, more muscular, and he's in better shape," the coach said. "And, he's in a better mood now that he doesn't have to cut so much weight."
As experienced as these wrestlers are, Clor is also operating with five freshmen on his starting roster.
"The good thing about this year's crop is that they all have experience coming in from wrestling at the middle school level," he said. "We've never had that before."
Josh Estensen at 103, Paul Yingling (112), Justin Hutchings (119), Jerame Perkins (152) and Andrew Leyva (171) are the starting freshmen. Perkins is trying to grasp the reality of his situation.
"I'm kind of nervous," Perkins said. "I have to get used to the new rules in high school."
The Bulldogs open their season at 5 p.m. Wednesday with Goodyear Millennium and at 6 against Phoenix Camelback at KHS. Millennium and Camelback face each other at 4.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
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I Think The Boys Are Going To Do Great. I'm a Wrestling Manager. I watch Them Everyday. I Think They Are Going To Do The Best They Can. I Have Faith That They Can Really Do It.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
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