Varsity wrestling ends season with high hopes

After+pinning+his+opponent+from+Mars+on+Jan.+27%2C+senior+Landon+Millward+raises+his+hand+as+a+sign+that+he+has+defeated+his+opponent.

Paige Young/FHS Press

After pinning his opponent from Mars on Jan. 27, senior Landon Millward raises his hand as a sign that he has defeated his opponent.

With the varsity wrestling team ending with wins in their hands, they successfully completed their season. The team finished off the season with a group consisting of five freshman: Jordan Delon, Nathan Hronas, Gavyn McCray, Carter Osadciw and Jason Shiring, four sophomores: James Couch, Giovanni Crivelli, Ryan Kredel and Cody Patterson, four juniors: Grace Lane, Trenton McCray, Tanner Millward and Matthew Schultheis and two seniors: Xavier Dwyer and Landon Millward.

The team ended the season with four out of the 15 wrestlers going to the Southwest AA Regionals on March 4 and 5. Gavyn McCray, Tanner Millward, Schultheis and Landon Millward led the team to 32nd place. Landon Millward made it through to the championship quarterfinals, where he was pinned after five minutes and 19 seconds. He then made it through to consolation round four, where he was pinned within 55 seconds, landing him in seventh place in his weight class.

Freshman Gavyn McCray got pinned during the championship round two within 51 seconds, pushing him through to the consolation rounds. He beat his opponent in consolation round two, bya score of 14-4. After making it to the third round, he was beaten with a major decision by a score of 6-2.

Junior Tanner Millward was beaten by a decision over him, by a score of 5-1. After wrestling in the consolation round two, he was beaten with another decision by a score of 3-0.

Junior Schultheis had gone through the championship round once and pinned his opponent within three minutes and nine seconds. After being pinned by his opponent in the championship round two within three minutes and 11 seconds, he moved onto the consolation rounds as well. Schultheis wrestled through consolation round two, but was defeated by his opponent by a decision and a close score of 4-3.

The team finished the season with a 15-6 record, and a 3-1 record within their league. They had a team total of a 59% win average, and a total of 182 wins to 125 losses. The team went to a number of different tournaments, invitationals, duals, meets and matches after long and hard practices, getting them to where they needed to be. 

“We are starting practice soon for next year and there are a good amount of kids coming up from junior high to get in the room and start wrestling again,” Gavyn McCray said.

With the school year almost over, getting into the weight room sooner rather than later is always a productive way for the Bulldog wrestlers to prepare for their next season and continue striving for success.