Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Wrestling Social Media
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys wrestling season begins tonight at English Valleys High School in a quadrangular non-conference showdown. The Hawks were 13-9 in duels a season ago, including 4-3 in non-conference contests. Mid-Prairie took sixth at the River Valley Conference tournament with 80 and a half points, crowning one champion with Cael Garvey winning the title at 195lbs. In the postseason, three Golden Hawks advanced through sectionals with Garvey and Gannon Callahan winning sectional titles at 195 and 285 and Kaden Meader was runner-up at 170lbs. At districts, Callahan was the lone Hawk that clinched a spot at state, finishing runner-up. He was 1-2 on the mat in Des Moines. Mid-Prairie lost four to graduation including Manny Watts, Garvey, Callahan and Brodey Neal. The Hawks return six wrestlers who were over .500 a year ago including Meader at 170lbs with a 32-18 record as a junior, a district qualifying season and third place at the RVC championships, junior Mose Yoder at 113lbs with a 30-12 record and third place finish at the RVC championships, Terry Bordenave at 220lbs after a 26-9 junior year, Jarron Thomas was 21-20 as a sophomore at 182lbs, Quinn Callahan was 15-6 as a freshman at 220lbs and Burke Berry was 8-4 at 285lbs as a freshman. The Hawks are also under the direction of new head coach Randy Billups, who has been around Golden Hawk wrestling in many capacities for 29 seasons. This week, he spoke with KCII Sports about what has him most excited about this year’s team. “The numbers are great, and there’s a lot of athletic kids. They’re strong, they’re quick. Even though they don’t know a lot of moves, they’re learning them fast. They seem to be picking up on it. We got a lot of that going on in the room. Kids are showing a lot of improvement in the early season. I think it’ll be good. Going to be a good year!”
One of three teams joining the Hawks tonight is Eddyville-Blakesburg. They were 13-7 in duels last season, finishing third at the South Central Conference Tournament, led by SCC champs sophomore Blake Jager at 182lbs and junior Skyler Young at 285lbs. In the postseason, four Rockets went all the way to state including senior Hunter McFadden at 160lbs, junior Kyler Ricard at 170lbs, Jager at 182 and Young at 285. The Rockets beat Mid-Prairie last season at this meet 60-30.
Wapello will also be on the mat tonight in North English. The Indians were 13-6 in duels last year, placing third at the Superconference championship meet with the top performance being junior Garret Dickey runner-up at 126lbs. In the postseason, sophomore Zach Harbison at 120lbs and Dickey advanced to districts before seeing their years come to an end. The Indians beat the Hawks at this event last season 51-27.
The home Bears will also compete tonight. They were 5-17 in duels a season ago. They finished eighth of 10 teams at the South Iowa Cedar League Championship meet last season, with senior Ty Moore finishing runner-up at 138lbs to lead the way. In the postseason the Bears sent a pair to districts where Moore at 138lbs and junior Josh Osborn at 152lbs saw their years come to an end. The Golden Hawks beat the Bears at this event last season 66-18. Action starts tonight at 5:30 at EV High School.