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Wrestling program making strides PDF Print E-mail
Sports - Louisburg
Written by Andy Brown   
Wednesday, 04 March 2009 08:00
Building a wrestling program isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to be lucky, and Louisburg coach Greg Darrington feels lucky enough to coach Bryce and Austin Hood.

Both Bryce and Austin have wrestled in kids’ wrestling since they were little, and they both live and breathe the sport. The Hoods transferred in from Paola two and a half years ago, and in return, Louisburg got a couple of pretty good wrestlers.

State qualifiers in Louisburg hasn’t exactly been a common theme among the wrestling program in recent years, much less state placers. The Hoods certainly bring that to the Wildcats, and Darrington knows they are a great place to start in rebuilding.

Bryce finished third at 135 pounds Saturday at the Kansas Class 4A State Wrestling Championships, while Austin, just a freshman, took fourth at 103 pounds. A year ago, Bryce placed third as well, and Saturday he became the first Wildcat in recent years to place in back-to-back seasons.

Austin, I believe, became the first freshman Louisburg wrestler to medal at state. If that is incorrect, I am sure someone will tell me, but if there are more, there can’t be too many. He is in elite company as far as Wildcat history goes.

Darrington, who took over from former coach Brent Lane, spent several years under Blue Valley Northwest coach Tim Serbousek, and he helped coach several state placers and state champions. He knows it takes work ethic and heart, along with a little talent.

He could see some of that talent grow this season such as in heavyweight Tyler Ewy and 160-pounder Mason Whaley. Brock Elliott (215), Alex Gentges (189), Derek Symes (171), Derek Mathia (145) and Jacob Herbert (130) all showed improvement over the season and Darrington hopes it can carry over to next year.

Senior Michael Kircher, along with Bryce and Austin, ventured to Salina for the state this past weekend and represented their school well. The future seems bright for this young group of Wildcats.

But it is all about the offseason in sports any more. To be successful, you can’t wait for the first day of practice to roll around. If you do, you will be left behind.

Wrestling is almost a year-round sport, and kids are forced to make choices as far as what they want to do in sports. If the work ethic is there, this Wildcat team could surprise a lot of people next season. Oh, and they could have a couple state champions in the process.
Not bad, not bad at all.
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