July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Youngsters will dictate Jay's success
JCHS wrestling
Youngsters will dictate Jay's success
There are just three Patriots who advanced out of the 2009 sectional who return this season. And as many as 10 freshmen were in the battle for spots in the starting lineup.
The bottom line: Jay County is young.
Coach James Myers' wrestling team - the defending Olympic Athletic Conference championship squad opens the season Friday at the New Castle Invitational - will have to overcome that general lack of experience in order to duplicate last season's success.
"To go from middle school ... to having a two-and-a-half hour intense practice ... is the biggest thing," said Myers of the adjustments his freshman class of 25 wrestlers will have to make. "Some of these guys wrestled with us in the summer (which helps). ...
"We're glad that we have a large group of freshmen. They're probably the key to our season and the success we're going to have."
The team lost 2009 seniors Casey Kenney, a two-time state medalist now wrestling at the University of Indianapolis, and Ben Theurer, a two-time semi-state qualifier. The class also included regional qualifiers Skyler Finnerty and Sha White.
The Patriots' experience this year comes in the upper weight classes, where seniors Matt James and Kyler Blowers return in the 215-pound and heavyweight classes.
Blowers (26-8) helped lead JCHS to its OAC championship - the team finished 2-1 along with Anderson Highland and Connersville, but won the title on the total points tiebreaker - with a 3-0 record in the conference meet.
He went on to place fourth in the sectional, and was eliminated in regional action by state champion Adam Chalfant of Winchester.
James (27-12) was 2-1 in the OAC and wrestled to a third-place sectional finish. He went to overtime in the first round of the regional tournament before dropping a 3-1 decision to Muncie Southside's Jimmie King.
"Last year they had good seasons, both of those guys," said Myers of Blowers and James. "Drake (Meska) is going to have a great season for us. He's had a great offseason. He's done nothing but wrestle and lift and train.
"Dyllan Derrickson was 11-4 for us last year. I know what I'm getting out of the older guys.
"They've got to start winning those big matches now."
Meska, a junior, battled injuries for most of the 2008-09 season, posting just one victory. He will start the season at 130 pounds this year with plans to cut down to 125 at tournament time.
Derrickson, a junior, projects as the starter at 135.
The rest of the lineup comes down to a group of freshman and sophomores, only one of which brings back significant varsity experience. That comes from 112-pounder Matt Seagraves, the only returning wrestler other than James and Blowers who reached the regional last season. He posted a 15-19 record at 103 pounds and was fourth in the sectional.
Myers said he also expects freshmen Chase Louck (119) and Kyle Garringer (189) to be able to make an impact quickly.
"(Louck) reminds all the coaches a lot of Casey (Kenney) - his intensity, his work ethic, his physical abilities," said Myers. "Kyle Garringer has a ton of experience. He's wrestled on several of the Team Indiana teams. ..."
The rest of the starting lineup includes sophomores Hai Hong (135), Nick Leonhard (145), Heng Hong (152) and Eric Beougher (160), and freshmen Skyler Sibery (103), Carrolton Fischer (125) and Daniel Rang (171).
Myers said one of the biggest challenges for the varsity newcomers, especially the freshman, will be to build endurance.
"A lot of them are used to wrestling 30-second matches where they just pin ... That's not going to happen here at the high school level," said Myers. "Our schedule is set up that they're going to be wrestling good kids all season, so they've got to be able to wrestle a six-minute match and keep their intensity the entire time."
Despite his team's youth, Myers is still hoping to repeat in the OAC and see another strong sectional effort. Last season's fourth-place team finish is the best JCHS has put together since the tournament moved to a nine-team format.
"We're going to keep (our goals) high, because I think by the end of the season the more matches these kids get the better they're going to be," said Myers. "By the end of the season we're going to be there and be ready for sectional time.
"I don't anticipate missing any trips to Conseco. We've got three or four kids who could make a good run and get down there (for the state meet)."
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The bottom line: Jay County is young.
Coach James Myers' wrestling team - the defending Olympic Athletic Conference championship squad opens the season Friday at the New Castle Invitational - will have to overcome that general lack of experience in order to duplicate last season's success.
"To go from middle school ... to having a two-and-a-half hour intense practice ... is the biggest thing," said Myers of the adjustments his freshman class of 25 wrestlers will have to make. "Some of these guys wrestled with us in the summer (which helps). ...
"We're glad that we have a large group of freshmen. They're probably the key to our season and the success we're going to have."
The team lost 2009 seniors Casey Kenney, a two-time state medalist now wrestling at the University of Indianapolis, and Ben Theurer, a two-time semi-state qualifier. The class also included regional qualifiers Skyler Finnerty and Sha White.
The Patriots' experience this year comes in the upper weight classes, where seniors Matt James and Kyler Blowers return in the 215-pound and heavyweight classes.
Blowers (26-8) helped lead JCHS to its OAC championship - the team finished 2-1 along with Anderson Highland and Connersville, but won the title on the total points tiebreaker - with a 3-0 record in the conference meet.
He went on to place fourth in the sectional, and was eliminated in regional action by state champion Adam Chalfant of Winchester.
James (27-12) was 2-1 in the OAC and wrestled to a third-place sectional finish. He went to overtime in the first round of the regional tournament before dropping a 3-1 decision to Muncie Southside's Jimmie King.
"Last year they had good seasons, both of those guys," said Myers of Blowers and James. "Drake (Meska) is going to have a great season for us. He's had a great offseason. He's done nothing but wrestle and lift and train.
"Dyllan Derrickson was 11-4 for us last year. I know what I'm getting out of the older guys.
"They've got to start winning those big matches now."
Meska, a junior, battled injuries for most of the 2008-09 season, posting just one victory. He will start the season at 130 pounds this year with plans to cut down to 125 at tournament time.
Derrickson, a junior, projects as the starter at 135.
The rest of the lineup comes down to a group of freshman and sophomores, only one of which brings back significant varsity experience. That comes from 112-pounder Matt Seagraves, the only returning wrestler other than James and Blowers who reached the regional last season. He posted a 15-19 record at 103 pounds and was fourth in the sectional.
Myers said he also expects freshmen Chase Louck (119) and Kyle Garringer (189) to be able to make an impact quickly.
"(Louck) reminds all the coaches a lot of Casey (Kenney) - his intensity, his work ethic, his physical abilities," said Myers. "Kyle Garringer has a ton of experience. He's wrestled on several of the Team Indiana teams. ..."
The rest of the starting lineup includes sophomores Hai Hong (135), Nick Leonhard (145), Heng Hong (152) and Eric Beougher (160), and freshmen Skyler Sibery (103), Carrolton Fischer (125) and Daniel Rang (171).
Myers said one of the biggest challenges for the varsity newcomers, especially the freshman, will be to build endurance.
"A lot of them are used to wrestling 30-second matches where they just pin ... That's not going to happen here at the high school level," said Myers. "Our schedule is set up that they're going to be wrestling good kids all season, so they've got to be able to wrestle a six-minute match and keep their intensity the entire time."
Despite his team's youth, Myers is still hoping to repeat in the OAC and see another strong sectional effort. Last season's fourth-place team finish is the best JCHS has put together since the tournament moved to a nine-team format.
"We're going to keep (our goals) high, because I think by the end of the season the more matches these kids get the better they're going to be," said Myers. "By the end of the season we're going to be there and be ready for sectional time.
"I don't anticipate missing any trips to Conseco. We've got three or four kids who could make a good run and get down there (for the state meet)."
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