Longhorn Wrestling Needs Numbers

With just a total of five wrestlers, Kimball High Wrestling coach Wade Brashear is looking for more numbers as he tries to build the program.

“We did pretty well for what we had to work with this year, but we need more wrestlers,” Brashear said. “We should have a good group of incoming freshmen next year and I hope for at least 5 to 7 of this year’s 8th graders to join us.”

Of the five wrestlers on this year’s team, two will graduate, and they are the two who ended up as state qualifiers. They will be missed for certain.

Jordan Cluff closed out his career as a two-time state qualifier and won matches at state both his junior and senior years. This year he finished with a winning record of 26 and 11. He set a new school record for escapes with 37. He led the team in match points scored with 239 and team points 121 also had 35 take downs, 22 reversals and 18 near falls and 19 pins.

Toby McManig§l had a remarkable season considering his return from a major health problem where the doctors informed him he would never be able to play sports again. He proved them wrong and enjoyed a season of 16 wins and 15 losses, and qualified for the state tournament in Om.aha at 220 pounds.

Toby scored 61 match points for the team, and 55 team points, had 9 pins, 9 take downs, 14 escapes and 7 reversals. He and Jordan were both good team leaders.

Stephen Bateman, a junior, wrestling at 285 pounds made a lot of improvement this year and should really excel next year as a senior. He also had a winning record this season of 16 wins and 14 losses. He scored 69 match points and 79 team points while registering 15 pins, 17 take downs, 12 escapes, and 4 reversals. The big junior was All Western Trails Conference!

Izaak Rohde, a sophomore wrestling at 182, ended up with a winning record of 20 and 18. He scored 134 match points and 91 team points while securing 14 pins, 30 takedowns, 31 escapes, 6 reversals and 6 near falls. He was Honorable Mention All Conference.

Connor Cluff, a sophomore who wrestled at 113 or 120, ended up at 14 wins and 19 losses scoring 146 match points and 43 team points. He won 6 times by fall and 7 by decision plus a major decision. He also had 20 take downs, 35 escapes, ‘16 reversals, and 7 near falls.

Coach Brashear said, “We are going to try and keep our wrestlers as busy as they want to be during the off-season. We are taking at least five to the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver the weekend of March 16-17. This huge tournament attracts wrestlers from all over the nation. It will be great exposure.

“Already signed up to go are Izaak Rohde, Jordan Cluff, and Stephen Bateman off this year’s team along with 8th graders Matt Johnson and James McGinnis. We will also have plenty of camps available for our guys this summer and hope to make it to as many as we can.”