Led by Thane McCoy, Wilmington was a runaway winner of the overall SBAAC wrestling championship last season.
McCoy (138), Carson Hibbs (132), Gage Davis (165), Josh Snell (190) and Paul McKnight (215) were first team all-league.
McCoy, Mythias Stuckey, Gage Davis and Josh Snell qualified for the state tournament with McCoy finishing sixth.
McCoy won 145 matches for his Hurricane career, believed to the most in WHS history.
Kelly Tolliver returns for his 11th season as WHS head coach. He’ll be assisted by Isaac Bray, Ryan Stuckey, Gary Van Pelt and Zach Johnson.
Scott Eastes will be in the wrestling room as the first-ever girls head coach with Jeremy Gloyd, Kylie Brewer and Joan Tolliver as assistant coaches. WHS has had female wrestlers in previous years, including Joan Tolliver, but never a program dedicated to the girls until this year.
“For the program we hope to put as much effort as possible into launching the first women’s team and to instill in them continued success,” Tolliver said. “We were elated when the school board approved the program. They have an outstanding coach in Scott Eastes and I look forward to this season.
“We encourage Hurricane wrestling fans to get out and support the program and the new women’s team at our home and away matches this season. I look forward to working with this staff again this year and welcome our new additions. Good luck to all this season.”
At the middle school level, Brad Bean is the head coach with Alantino Keefer and Cameron Smart assistant coaches.
There are eight returning letterwinners to the WHS program this year, including Ty Stuckey and McKnight.
In addition to Thane McCoy, Hibbs, Snell and Davis, Thad Stuckey, who was fourth in the state as a junior, have all graduated WHS and leave a sizable gap in the Hurricane lineup.
“We have a tough senior class and once the season starts, I am confident they will be good leaders,” said Tolliver. “This team has good work ethic. We have had wrestlers on the mat competing during the summer and our workouts have been great. We look forward to another season and to the beginning of our women’s program. It’s an exciting time for everyone.”
Newcomers to note include freshmen Max McCoy and Josiah Puller. A highly-decorated youth wrestler, Puller finished his middle school career with a 69-2 record, with both losses in the Ohio Athletic Commission state tournaments. He was second in his weight class as a seventh grader and third as an eighth grader.
“Jo and Max have had notable results in our youth and junior high programs and will be exciting to watch,” Tolliver said.
Tolliver said the coaches push the wrestlers to be in peak shape at the right time of the year.
”That happens by never being satisfied,” he said. “We continue to encourage our athletes to get additional workouts outside of practice.”
Health, though, is always a concern. But if the team can keep the regulars in the lineup, good things will happen at 300 Richardson Place.
”When hitting on all cylinders and no injuries Wilmington will be a very tough team this season,” said Tolliver. “We hope to earn a berth in the state duals tournament again this season and fight for placement.
As far as individual, we are striving to get to the top of the podium in Columbus this March. I feel confident that person is in our room right now.”
