Last season Southmont wrestling was strong at each and every class, and coach Jamie Welliever hopes to see the same mentality lead toward more success this winter.
“We are taking the same approach to try and be solid at all 14 weight classes,” he said. “Our strength again this year will be our “total team” and not just a few guys. It will have to be all 14 making big contributions.
In 2018-19 the Mounties dominated the majority of the their schedule, but filed in behind North Montgomery in both the county and Sagamore Conference, and behind the Chargers and Zionsville in the IHSAA Sectional.
Southmont lost half of their starters to graduation last season, but return six varsity starters — including seniors Clayton Downey, Takeshi Greiner, and Tyler Welliever. And juniors Riley Woodall and Dillan Lauy, and sophomore Noah Benge.
“Practice has been fantastic so far this year with great leadership and contributions from wrestlers in all four grades,” Welliever added.
Freshmen Kion Cornelius and Ashtin Pickett, sophomores Gerald Hutson, Collin Martin, and Zayden Dunn, along with juniors Evan Francis and Isaiah McMasters, and seniors Ethan Himes and Evan Lowe are also expected to crack into the lineup this season.
Welliever says the Mounties plan to turn up the intensity this season, and keep progressing one match at a time.
“We are just going to try to wrestle a little more aggressive and a little more tougher this year,” he said. “As far as winning we’ll just tackle that one meet at a time.”
Southmont opens the season at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday against Covington.
Oakley takes over
Mustang program
The Fountain Central wrestling program is now under the direction of Jaren Oakley, and the new coach is excited with the opportunity to get the program back to competing at the top-level.
“With this being my first year as varsity coach my goal is to get my wrestlers on a level where I think they can compete with anyone they up against on the mat,” he said.
The Mustangs lost Wyatt Bible, Brendan Riley, Kameron Reinken, and Trey Mortimore to graduation, but return Eli Oiler, Nick Swenson, Jason Matthews, Austin Pickett, Zach Groff, Willie Frazee, Corey Stewart, and Matthew Alexander.
Oakley also expects Ethan Swaim, Michael Strawhorn, Landon Ortiz, Trey Lawhorn, Steven Remero, Chanz James, Joel Veach, Jordan Melvin, Justin Akers, and Landon Franklin to crack into the lineup this season. With Fountain Central still being a young team, Oakley hopes to see his team peak come tournament time, as the Mustangs look to win their first sectional title since 2010.
“My expectations to make us better for the end of the season when it comes to tournament time,” he said. “We are a very young team this year with only one senior. It will probably be a great learning year for the team and to get a jump start on next season.”
