The North Butler-Clarksville boys wrestling team advanced two wrestlers and first time qualifiers Carl Shew at 113 and Jaxson Miller at 138 to the state tournament in their first year competing as a Class 2A program. Shew placed seventh and Miller went 2-2 and did not place.
Head Coach Adam Holm on the Wolves first year in 2A and what the team needs to wrestle with more of next season.
“It shows heart. Everybody’s talking about big schools, all this other stuff and that it’s a lot tougher. Granted it’s tougher they have more kids and they have more competition that they can do in the room. At districts, we saw everybody so we knew what we’re getting into. I think we competed well with them, with some of our kids,” says Holm. “I think that’s key for us when we’re looking to the future, we want them to be more aggressive and take that into the offseason. Next year when we come out, that they have a little chip on their shoulder, a little bit of attitude. If we’re going to be 2A, we’re going to come out here and we’re going to compete no matter who we’re facing.”
The Wolves will graduate one senior in Jaxson Miller and are projected to return 15 wrestlers next season. Six of those returners had over 25 wins this season.
Holm on some of the returners and what they bring to the mat.
“I’m excited for the future. The three freshman that we have that came over from Clarksville, are really talented and they’re gonna do some big things. The sophomore class that are gonna be juniors next year. Jack Bartels, was a state qualifier last year, missed out this year. We hope that drives him for next year. We had a kid that was hurt all year, Peyton Knoll who’s a really good wrestler to. He got hurt his first match of the year. He’s got some talent and he’s gonna be a junior next year. Those juniors that are going to be seniors. We’ve got another Miller, Weston Miller, Jackson’s brother who’s going to do really good. We think the program is heading in the right direction with getting more kids down to state and they’re putting the work in.”
The top three returners for the Wolves by record are freshman Maddox Morrison at 126 who went 41-11, sophomore Carl Shew at 113 who went 39-10 and freshman McCabe Gansen who went 31-24 at 215 this season.
