Bearcat wrestlers will use experience, leadership to make late-season run

NORTH BUTLER WRESTLING

Bearcat wrestlers will use experience, leadership to make late-season run

Dalton Nelson ranked No. 3 heading into wrestling season

There’s a core foundation building in the North Butler wrestling room.

Head coach Gordy Smith said it’s a “good nucleus” of wrestlers that will be leading the Bearcats through the season. Dalton Nelson, Austin Jansen and Tyler Brinkman have a sound understanding of what needs to happen for the Bearcats to return to the state tournament.

Smith said this year’s senior class will provide leadership for the team to continue to improve.

“We’ve got a good couple meets to start the season off with,” Smith said. “Wins there will help set the tone for the rest of the season. That’s what we need.”

There will be 13 wrestlers coming back who had some sort of time grappling with a varsity position in 2014-15. With that kind of experience coming back, Smith said he isn’t going to have to spend time at the beginning of the season teaching the basics of the sport.

Rather, Smith will be preparing the concrete talent he does have for those first meets, while still coaching along some of the younger talent the Bearcats have and foster them into the holes needed to be filled from graduated seniors.

“We’ve got real good depth this year,” Smith said. “We’re just going to have to figure your where our new kids coming up are going to fit in.”

State tournament bids are likely, but the real goal for the Bearcats this season will be constant improvement. Smith said the team’s 18 wins last season were good, but he wants to see the Bearcats improve off of that and continue the success of the program.

By Stephen Koenigsfeld sports@charlescitypress.com