Kyle Newton said he likes what he is seeing from the Yuma High School boys wrestling team.
“Everything’s been really great,” the head coach said of the preseason practices. “I think it gets better every year. It’s starting to click with these guys, they’re understanding what we’re wanting to do.”
There are 15 out for the 2021-22 season. Newton said the Indians likely will not field three weights – “which is kind of a bummer,” he said – 106, 113, and either 120 or 126.
Nevertheless, Newton and his staff have a quality group of grapplers looking forward to having a full season again following last school year’s shortened Season B. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only eight wrestlers in each weight qualified for state, instead of the usual 16, meaning one had to reach the regional final to qualify.
Yuma had been qualifying around eight for state the past several seasons, but only two made it last year – Braden Smith, who graduated last May, and John Smith, who is returning for his senior season.
As of now, it is back to a full regular season, and postseason.
The Indians get busy right away with the regular season. They open Friday at a dual event at Greeley West High School, then compete in the Akron Invitational on Saturday. They then have duals with Wiggins and Sterling on Tuesday at Wiggins.
In fact, the Indians have a very busy schedule before the Christmas break, and it continues when the season resumes in January.
“That was the plan,” Newton said. “What we lack out here is mat time, so we’re trying to get as many as we can before state.”
The Indians are a bit bunched up in the middle weights, particularly 152 and 160, so there are going to be some competitive wrestle-offs to claim the varsity spot each week.
Smith, Yahir Trejo and Jose Ruiz are previous state tournament qualifiers. There are many more expected to contend for a state berth this season. The roster includes Adrian Carranza, Hugo Montes, Trey Stegman, Tayte Smith, Kallen Blach, Kevin Hermosillo, Victor Perez, Peyton Wells, Brandon Lueck, Zeke Martinez, Cody Smithey and Brian Coyle.
The Indians will have four home events this season, including hosting a tournament on February 5. The first wrestling action at YHS will not be until January 11, when the Indians will host Burlington.
