The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows boys wrestling team was underclassman heavy with 23 freshman and sophomores, compared to 12 upperclassman. The underclassman stepped up and didn’t waste their mat opportunities.
Freshman standouts included state qualifier Colin Sesker at 144 (32-8) and state qualifier Paxton Redenius at 106 (29-16). Sophomore standouts included state qualifier Adrian Phetxoumphone at 126 (39-2), state qualifier Charlie Campbell at 175 (40-3) and state qualifier JT Kelso at 285 (37-5).
Head Coach Dillon Anderson on the potential of this team going forward.
“We lose one senior, Caleb Seaba, so eight returning qualifiers. We have a very young, talented team with some really good middle schoolers on their way up these next couple years. Obviously if they put the time in during the offseason, we’re only going to get better,” says Anderson. “I really look for us to hopefully be coming home with not only one team trophy, but two team trophies next year.”
The Cowboys will also return state qualifiers Angel Cortes at 113 (15-7), Linden Phetxoumphone at 120 (32-2) and Ryland Morgan at 165 (26-18).
Anderson on maintaining an active offseason and working through inexperience.
“I hope that a lot of those kids find their way into the wrestling room a little bit in the offseason, to keep their wrestling skills sharp and get better. Then find their way into the weight room to keep building strength. Being a little bit younger team, you have some of that inexperience in those big moments. A lot of times offseason wrestling, when you go to some of those bigger tournaments, you can kind of get exposed to some really high level wrestling on some big stages. I think that’s probably my biggest focus over this offseason is to make them try to go to some camps and a couple of bigger tournaments, to get exposed to some brighter lights. Then we can get some of that inexperience out of the way, so that when it comes wrestling season we’re ready to roll.”
The Cowboys completed a year of achievement in 24’-25’ with a third place finish at the Class 2A dual team tournament, a Class 2A district title and eight individual state qualifiers and three individual medalists at the state traditional tournament this season.
