Climax-Scotts and Martin will lose a combined total of eight graduating seniors who helped the C-S-M co-op wrestling team to a 26-2 overall record, including six wrestlers who were regulars in the run to the Division 4 Team State Finals the last three years.
Graduating C-S seniors Logan Gilbert (44-6), Cole Reitz (34-15), Jackson Bagwell (38-18), Sam Bleeker (42-16) and Brayan Simbron (16-7) had a combined 174 wins this year, and Martin seniors Jayce Ritchie (44-16), Jakub Tomyslak (40-22), and Matthew Holmes (21-14) had a combined 105 wins.
The seniors put a lot of time into the program and experienced a lot of success. There will be some big voids to fill.
“A lot of guys coming back haven’t had a ton of mat time experience based on the starters they were behind. They have had the past two years a lot of JV experience or mat time then what we had prior. So I feel there’s still going to be a learning curve there with some of the younger guys coming in that are going to be put in to filling weight classes. But they’re going to have to put in some off season work,” said C-S coach Mike Reitz.
Reitz said many of the wrestlers returning have started an off season regimen that benefits the program by participating in the MyWay program. However he said because wrestlers at other schools are also participating in off-season programs, there has to be buy in and commitment to keep growing.
The C-S coach said he has emphasized to returning wrestlers if they want to experience the Team State Finals event a fourth straight year, or individual accomplishments many of the graduating seniors did, off season commitment will be needed.
“They totally understand that. It’s kind of a mind set that needs to start at a younger age, which you can’t ever revert. You can’t ever go backwards. These guys need to understand, and I try to tell them in the beginning every season, even if you’re getting better, all you’re doing is paralleling with the best guys are at. You’re not gaining on them. Those guys are going to practice the same amount of time as you. So if you want to make gains, you have to do more. You have to do more then the guys that are better than you and that means off season practices. That means going to another practice two days a week. A lot of those guys at the state tournaments that are winning, they go to their high school practice and then after that they go to their club practice. They might not go every day. but they’re going two or three days a week. Or at least twice a week and once on a weekend. That’s the kind of dedication it takes if you want to be a state champion. But if you’re all right with just getting into the state tournament. Each individual person’s goals are their goals and if that’s what they want to do then there’s realities that have to happen to achieve those goals,” said Reitz.
Junior Haylen Buell (144-pound weight class), with a second place medal, and freshman Urijah Joostberns (113), a fifth place medalist, both are returning individual all-state medalists for Martin. Buell, who earned his 150th career win at the team state finals, ended the season with a 53-5 record, while Joostberns finished the season with a 34-14 record.
Also returning for Martin is freshman Jacinto Lopez (106), who captured the attention of C-S-M fans by posting a huge pin in the team semifinal win over St. Louis to send C-S-M into the State Finals. He finished with a 35-15 record. Sophomores Logan Curry (138-pound weight class/21-8) and Seth Toris (144/37-12), both made significant contributions this year as well.
Other Martin wrestlers listed on the team state finals roster that could return include junior Michael Chilel-Chun, (150/6-4), sophomores Cody Wooten (157/2-5), Lucas Totten (120/3-9) and freshman Adler Hofer, (126/0-0), and Gabryel Anaya (165/2-7).
Other members on the team state finals roster from C-S that could return include freshmen Bryce Birkam (150/6-8), Gixxer Blair (157/27-9), Dalyn Bogard (120/0-3), Jaques Porlier (126/16-16), and Easton VanMiddlesworth (165/6-11), sophomores Cole Birkam (215/10-8), Cooper Dinse (285/21-9), Kaden Godbee (132/9-9), Ethan Seage (190/8-9), and juniors Nate Arnett (120/13-16), Jonathon Collver (175/4-8), Dean Parks (165/8-10), and Malcolm Smith (190/24-5).
Buell placed first at the individual district and regional tournament, Joostberns placed second at both the individual district and regional tournament, Blair placed first at the individual districts, Smith (190), Toris (144), and Lopez all finished second at individual districts and Curry (138) finished fourth at the individual district tournament.
Bleeker hopes younger wrestlers recognize the seniors put in hard work to enjoy so much success, and will be willing to make a similar commitment so they too, can have success.
“I look at wrestlers like a Nate Arnett, who has very good potential, staying off their backs. Urijah Joostberns (Martin freshman). Cheeto (Martin freshman Jacinto Lopez). There’s a lot of potential for this team in the future I think they’re going to keep on winning until their time comes as a senior,” said Bleeker.
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough to fill their spots with the guys we’ve got leaving. But the younger guys are going to have to step up. They’ve been on the big stage.
They’ve got some experience here, so now they’ve got to step up and do it. It’s been a really fun year,” adds Reitz.
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