Men’s wrestling chasing another great year

By BreAnne Benson

CSC Men’s Wrestling Head Coach Brett Hunter has high expectations for the team this season after mildly successful season last year with lots of young talent

 “This is the most motivated team I’ve seen in 11 years,” Hunter said in an interview.

 The Eagles preseason looked different for the team from last year. They didn’t go as hard in an effort to avoid burnout with the long season ahead, which is proving to be effective as the team is in good health and spirits, according to Hunter.

 Eli Hinojosa, senior of Imperial, who placed fourth at the 2021-2022 NCAA Regionals, Mason Watt, senior of Broomfield, Colorado, who placed fifth, Ethan Leake, senior of Clovis, California, who placed second, and Rowdy Pfeil, junior of Moorecroft, Wyoming, who placed fourth at the NCAA Division II Super Regional in 2021, are all expected to do well and bring their personal experience to push the team even further this year.

 One standout underclassmen Hunter mentioned as one to watch is Quade Smith, sophomore of Layton, Utah, who was a three-time state champion in high school from 2019-2021, four-time All-American, and last year placed fifth at regionals as a freshman.

 When asked about what struggles they’ve faced this year, Hunter briefly mentioned how there will be some predominately young weight classes and that they are facing “one of the toughest schedules in the county.” Their first dual will be against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions.

 They will kick off their season today at 6 p.m., with the Black and Cardinal Classic, in the Chicoine Center, in Chadron. Admission is free to the public.