It takes a lot to stay on top and Marshall Rhodes, head coach of the Green River High School Wrestling team, understands the other 4A teams will be gunning for the Wolves this season.
The defending state champs has a lot of returning members, including individual champions Jordan Tucker, Gage Byers and Cyro Montoya. Returning with those three are Justin Flores, Nathan McCann, Kaycee Cochrane, Eric Clingenpeel and Blake Waite. Rhodes said the greatest strengths the team has is the number of strong wrestlers returning to the team, as well as the good group of freshmen wrestlers who have joined, all of whom know how to work hard. Rhodes said he has 15 freshmen coming into the program and expects a few of them to make an impact immediately.
“We are all aware that defending a state title takes more work than getting one because everyone is shooting for you,” Rhodes said. “We lost some good wrestlers last year, but I feel we have the team to defend the title.”
Early competition in regional tournaments, like last weekend’s tournament in Evanston, are something the team has always done.
Rhodes said the wrestlers enjoy competing out of state as they get competition they normally wouldn’t face. Those tournaments give the team great experience and an opportunity to prepare for home meets later in the season.
Rhodes said practices have gone well so far, with wrestlers focusing on improving their technique every day.
“We aren’t looking at the end of the season right now, we are taking one day at a time and we must improve every time we go in the room,” Rhodes said.
While Rhodes expects the competition to be much tighter in Wyoming than last season, he believes the season should be a fun one for the team.
“I am excited about the potential of this team,” Rhodes said. “With hard work and focus on good technique, I feel we have a good chance to keep the title in Green River.”
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