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Chieftain wrestlers open first season under Starcher

By Justin Nutter - | Nov 18, 2014

2014-15 schedule

Asher Huseman will look to build on his state title match appearance last season when the Tonganoxie High wrestling team opens its 2014-15 schedule Dec. 6 at Wamego. Huseman will start the season ranked No. 1 in his Class 4A at 152 pounds.

Dec. 6 — at Wamego

Dec. 12-13 — at Eudora

Dec. 18 — vs. Ottawa/SFT

Dec. 20 — Starcher Inv.

Jan. 8 — vs. Spring Hill

Jan. 10 — at Louisburg

Jan. 16-17 — at Basehor

Jan. 24 — at Holton

Jan. 29 — at Basehor

Jan. 31 — at Baldwin

Feb. 5 — at Bonner

Feb. 14 — KVL tourney

Feb. 20-21 — Regionals

As far as experience goes, the 2014-15 Tonganoxie High wrestling team might be a bit deceiving.

The Chieftains return just two wrestlers who qualified for state last March and must replace seven starters off last year’s regional team. But, with a two-time state qualifier back from an injury and an incoming freshman class with plenty of success already under its belt, there’s been no dip in optimism as the season draws closer.

THS opened its first season under Ross Starcher when practice officially opened Monday. The former THS standout spent the last six years as a Chieftain assistant coach, but was handed the reins of the program in June.

Starcher inherits 2014 state qualifiers and seniors Garrett Martin and Asher Huseman, as well as fellow senior Dalton Tavis, who is back after missing all of last season with a knee injury. Huseman and Martin represent more than 70 percent of the team’s returning wins, and Tavis was a state qualifier in his first two high school seasons, so Starcher will rely on all three to help prepare this year’s underclassmen for their first varsity competition.

“As far as our leaders, they’ve just got to help the young guys out,” Starcher said. “They’re in here for themselves and to make the team better, but you’re only as good a the weakest link on your team. It’s a heck of a lot more fun to win things as a team than as an individual. The atmosphere in practice picks up and everybody gets better.”

Huseman returns after reaching the state title match at 152 pounds last season. He went 33-6 and joined Starcher as the only two Chieftains ever to wrestle in the state finals. Meanwhile, Martin went 23-17 at 138 pounds, but didn’t medal at state. Tavis was 18-7 and fell one win shy of a state medal as a sophomore in 2013.

Other wrestlers who bring varsity experience to the table are senior Tyler Warthen, junior Heath Martin and sophomores George Lang and Jay Willcutt. Lang and Willcutt had the most success of that group last season, winning 9 and 11 matches, respectively.

This year’s roster includes nine freshman, many of which played large roles in a record-breaking season last year at Tonganoxie Middle School. Justin Hand broke the Warriors’ single-seasons record, going a perfect 21-0. Caden Searcy (13-0) and Zeb Huseman (12-0) also went undefeated as eighth-graders, while four others won at least 13 matches.

“I’m pretty excited about the freshman class,” Starcher said. “Our freshman and sophomore classes have some big numbers and kids with a lot of experience. Getting them through this first year, just keeping them out is the hardest thing. We’ve got a lot of kids around the same weight, so it’s going to be hard for them to get on varsity, but if can we keep this group together, we’re going to be legit.”

Time on the mat has hardly been in short supply for this year’s newcomers, but their veteran teammates have already spent time during the offseason preparing them for the high school level, which often requires a stronger work ethic and more attention to detail. The team wrestled at a camp at the University of Nebraska-Kearney during the summer and utilized open mat sessions in the weeks before school began.

“We’ve just been working with them and trying to get them prepared for the level above middle school,” Tavis said. “You’ve got to work harder and be a lot more dedicated to it.”

The Chieftains will open their season Dec. 6 at the Wamego Invitational, where they took fourth last season. Martin and Huseman won individual titles at the tournament.

The season-opener will be the first look at varsity for several wrestlers, so Starcher said it’s important to keep nerves in check — something he’s already begun discussing in the wrestling room.

“Getting that first match out of the way, you’re usually pretty good after that,” he said. “It’s crucial to get their minds set and build their confidence up in practice. There’s nothing to be scared of.”

The Chieftains have several home competitions on this year’s schedule. They’ll welcome Ottawa and Santa Fe Trail for a non-league triangular on Dec. 18, then host the Randy Starcher Memorial Invitational — named after Ross’ cousin who was killed in a car accident in 1993 — two days later. THS will also take on Frontier League opponent Spring Hill at home on Jan. 8 and is the host of this season’s Kaw Valley League tournament, set for Feb. 14.