Eagles to begin season at Cowboy Open
The Chadron State wrestlers started practicing for this season Oct. 10 in preparation for their 2015-2016 season. Their first tournament will be the Cowboy Open Tournament hosted by the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Saturday.
As of this week, there were more than 400 wrestlers from 35 teams that were entered to compete in the tourney.
“Goals for the team for the Cowboy Open is to wrestle hard and continue to get better each match,” Head Coach Brett Hunter said. “We feel like we can have a lot of success this season but it all starts with this weekend. Last year, we had three guys place at this tournament so this year we really want to feed off that and get more placers.”
Although the team is young, there are four juniors that are leading them into the season as the most experienced wrestlers: Jacob Anderson, of Central City, 157-pounds; Reed Burgener, of Douglas, Wyoming, 165-pounds; Caleb Copeland, of Bennett, Colorado, 174-pounds; and Taylor Summers, of Plymouth; 133-pounds.
Anderson and Copeland have each won 41 matches, Summers has chalked up 44 wins, and Burgener has won 18.
Both Anderson and Burgener have moved up a weight class from last season, while Copeland, who went 24-16 last season to qualify for the national tournament at 174-pounds, remains at the same weight.
“The guys returning all have the same goals and they want to be successful,” Hunter said. “The program has been down for a few years in my opinion and the returning guys know they can change the atmosphere here at Chadron State.”
Another returner for the Eagles is Austin Abbey, junior of Rapid City, South Dakota, heavyweight, who was a part-time starter last season and is also returning to the same weight.
Josh Miller, sophomore of Bennett, Colorado, and Zack Denney, sophomore of North Platte, both wrestled at 141-pounds last season. Denney will stay at 141-pounds, but Miller has moved to 133-pounds. Miller and Denney wrestled 10-14 and 3-4 last season, respectively.
Chance Helmick, sophomore of Beatrice, 165-pounds, wrestled 17-13 as a true freshman last season and will also be returning to the same weight.
Hunter said the team has been focusing on consistency to improve from last year.
“Staying consistent mentally and physically is very important to us this season with such a young group,” Hunter said.
Hunter said there are new boys coming in this year that he’s excited about.
New team members include DJ Castillo, redshirt freshman of Lincoln, 197-pounds; Brandon Kile, freshman of Hastings, 125-pounds; Kai Dill, freshman of Clovis, California, 285-pounds; Ethan Koan, freshman of Kansas City, Missouri, 125-pounds; Shane Rodenburg, freshman of Kent City, Michigan, 184-pounds; Casey Glassgow, sophomore of Gordon, 141-pounds; Luke Zeiger, sophomore of Glasgow, Montana, 141-pounds; Sean Glasgow, freshman of Bound Brook, New Jersey, 157-pounds; Shaq Bell, junior of South Haven, Michigan, 165-pounds; Connor Myers, freshman of St. Joseph, Michigan, 149-pounds; Michael Colello, freshman of Temecula, California, 197-pounds; and Steven Hopkins, sophomore of Maple Valley, Washington, 133-pounds.
“It’s a great class that we have brought in,” Hunter said. “They are a step ahead of where we need them to be and I’m excited to see them grown and get better this season.
“We want to thank everyone for their support towards the wrestling program and hope to see them at our home events,” Hunter said.