Shawnee Heights boys' and girls' wrestlers are experienced, determined and deep: 'We’re excited'
The Shawnee Heights wrestling program will return a number of experienced wrestlers to the mat this season.
The boys’ and girls’ programs boast returning state placers as they head into their first matches of the year.
“Our focus will be on gratitude, effort and toughness in how we practice and compete, and in the decisions we make,” said head coach Chad Parks. “No. 1 is to define success for each person and evaluate everything based on that definition of success. We want to help our athletes become the best versions of their best potential selves.”
Girls’ wrestling program enters year three
The Lady T-Birds return two state placers this year, including Senior Maranda Bell (191), who is currently ranked second in the state. Both Bell and Senior Alexandria Buce (106) have wrestled with the program since it began.
“We have a number of returners with mat time” said Parks. “We expect them to step right in. Bell and Buce have been with the program since the beginning. Their bodies understand how to wrestle, so the girls with experience help the girls without experience.”
As a junior, Buce was one of three Division I state qualifiers, finishing third at substate, and going 0-2 at the state meet with an overall 24-6 record for the season. She was recognized first-team All-City honors for the second consecutive year last year.
Sophomore Odessa Schmidt (109) is another up-and-comer to watch this season. During her freshman season, Schmidt went 18-11, placing second at regionals and fifth at substate, putting her just short of making the state tournament.
Going into the season ranked second in the state doesn’t seem to phase Maranda Bell, who is in her fifth season of wrestling.
“There’s always going to be someone better, so I don’t worry about that,” said Bell. “Worry about your own strength and techniques. Worrying about other people’s rankings is one of the biggest weaknesses for our younger wrestlers. They’re just numbers.”
Bell was named City Junior of the Year last season, earning second-team All-City honors alongside teammates Molly Busenitz (109) and Riley Thompson (120). When Bell began wrestling for the T-Birds, there were only two female wrestlers on the team. During her sophomore season, girls’ wrestling was established as its own entity.
“It’s given female athletes better opportunities and encouraged more girls to come out,” she said.
Bell’s strategy for her senior season is simple. She says she will continue to put in the work to get the results she’s hoping for.
“Train hard. Give it all during practice, and you’ll give it all during matches.”
The girls’ team will open its season on Dec. 4 at Emporia.
T-Birds head into season heavy with experience
The boys’ wrestling team will lean heavily on its experience and the leadership of returning upperclassmen during the upcoming season.
“We have 13 of 14 returning starters, six who placed at state, and five others who were one match away,” said Parks. “We have a lot of experience.”
Last season, the program qualified all 14 of its varsity wrestlers for substate, taking third overall, and qualifying nine for the 5A state tournament. Caden Walker (160) walked away with the title of substate champion for his weight class and finished fourth at state. Brock Ferguson (120) and Garrett Peery (220) joined him as state placers, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in their weight classes, leading Shawnee Heights to a sixth-place finish to end the season.
Peery, in his seventh season of wrestling, is currently ranked third in the state and hopes to live up to the lessons that he says wrestling has taught him this year.
“I like wrestling because it pushes you past your mental barriers and teaches you to work hard for the things you want,” he said. “If things get hard in life, I go back to wrestling. When I’m weak and mentally drained, I can push through those hard times.”
The team will put their experience to the test when they face opponents at Spring Hill on Dec. 3. Parks says he anticipates a successful season ahead for both of his teams due to the caliber of athletes he’s working with this year.
“We’re excited," Parks said. "This is a good group of kids, not only in wrestling but in character and leadership.”
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee Heights wrestling programs look to take next step
