LINDEN — As Bryce McCoy enters his third season as the North Montgomery wrestling coach, the Chargers are building toward the future. And with just two seniors on the roster — it’s easy to see the optimism growing.
“Our mindset during our rebuild is to control what we can control,” McCoy said. “The kids can control how hard they work in the wrestling room and their attitudes on a daily basis. With the right attitude, our kids will have a successful season regardless of wins and losses.”
The Chargers return seniors James McClerkin and Dakota Punke along with junior Cailin and Catie Campbell, Wil Campbell, and sophomore starters Todd Laffoon and Christian Hall. Sophomore Marisa Moffitt also gained varsity experience as a freshman last season and returns.
Freshmen Colin Campbell, Jacob Hughes, and Jacob Rice look to add youthful depth to the lineup.
“Our first goal would be to actually have a full season and keep everyone healthy,” McCoy said. “We are a very young team, so I expect there to be many growing pains but I know the kids have been putting in a lot of hard work. Hopefully we start to build back up a culture of hard work and toughness that we’ve had in previous years.”
After claiming a fourth-straight Sagamore Conference title in the 2018-19 season, the Chargers took a step back last season with a fifth-place finish at the conference meet and third place at the Montgomery County meet.
McCoy says his team, like many others in the state have had to adjust to the new protocols set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, but are remaining optimistic that a full season will happen.
The Chargers open the season on Saturday at the Parke Heritage Invitational, a tournament they have dominated in recent years.
As McCoy starts to turn North Montgomery’s wrestling program back toward its longtime destined path of success, his young wrestlers understand it starts with them.
“Our freshmen and sophomores have to realize that our future success lays with them,” he said. “They have to start now by having a good work ethic so that future classes will see what it takes to have success for our team.”
