The AP/GC wrestling teams will both travel to Sumner-Fredericksburg to join Columbus Catholic for a girls and boys NICL triangular Thursday, which’ll air on 99 The Wave.
It’ll be the third meet in four nights for the girls, which went 3-0 at Tuesday’s home quad and 2-2 at Monday’s dual meet at Osage. Head Coach Joel Reints says some newcomers to the program have given the team a boost, notably Jocelyn Freed, Evelyn Geerdes, Kira Cox and Caylee Harken.
“It’s like the switch just flipped on for them, and all of a sudden now they look pretty impressive, and I look for good things for them in the future,” Reints says. “These girls are just doing a great job of coming into the wrestling room, working hard and with an open mindm trying to learn the sport and translating that to their matches. They’re doing a great job of that, and that’s why I like to coach these young ladies. They’re coming in, they don’t know anything, it’s all new to them. So you’re starting with a clean slate. You don’t have to break any bad habits. You just come in and this is how you do it. And so that’s where they’re taking it. And they’ve been doing a great job all year.”
The AP/GC boys will compete for the first time in January, having last competed at a tournament at Iowa Falls-Alden in December. Reints says an evolving lineup will feature some wrestlers getting their first action of the season.
“It’s definitely been a long stretch. It really feels like the boys haven’t competed in forever. But the biggest thing I think we accomplished over break, is I think we’re going to get another starter back in the lineup in Devan Eberhart, and then we’re still kind of waiting on Gage Miller. We’re crossing our fingers that he’s going to be able to go, and trying to get everyone squared away on weight. I think Carter Liston is going to move down a weight class. So that’ll be different. Our lineup probably looks quite a bit different, three or four guys in the lineup that haven’t been in the lineup all year. So I think it’s going to be good changes, and I think everyone’s kind of refreshed from the break, and we’re ready to turn it on this last stretch here.”
Among the leaders, Hunter McBride is 10-0 and Jesse Brouwer leads the team in wins at 12-1.
The boys and girls duals will occur simultaneously. AP/GC will open the night by taking on the Sailors at 6:15 p.m., followed by the hosts.
Joel Reints preview interview:
