Matmen have youthful look

Staff Photo by Steve Sell McPherson High's Sam Archer has teammate Linus Dixon in a hold, as Bullpup coach Rich Settle offers some instruction.By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

McPherson High has been one of the Class 5A wrestling mainstays for better than a decade.
The Bullpups are coming off a year in which they shared the Ark Valley League championship in the final year of the league and went 8-1 in duals. They qualified 10 wrestlers for state, and two of them medaled.
But for the first time in eons, veteran coach Rich Settle faces a major rebuilding job. Gone are seven state qualifiers that highlighted one of the largest-ever MHS senior classes.
And with a squad of 28, the Bullpups don't have their usual depth. But what they lack in quantity, Settle hopes they make up for in quality.
The Bullpups open their season Thursday with a 7 p.m. dual at Derby. Originally the meet was listed as a triangular, but it was changed to a dual since Arkansas City and Derby also meet one other time this year.
Settle is in his 23rd year of coaching and while he doesn't have a team with its usual star power, he does have a young group that's hungry to learn.
"I knew all of those big senior classes would catch up with us at some point," Settle said. "But we've got some young kids who are pretty good. We're going to start slow, but I think we'll come on the second semester."
Highlighting the Bullpups' returnees are state qualifiers Sam Archer, Levi Sides and Dallas Nelson. Archer was fourth in the state last year at 215, while Sides was fifth at 125.
Settle believes Archer could contend for championship honors. "He's been working hard on his takedowns," Settle said. "That's what kept him out of the championship match last year and he knows it. He's been working hard and has provided a lot of leadership. We've had great leadership from all our seniors so far."
Sides has jumped all the way up to 145, bypassing three weights. "Levi has really grown and it's a matter of his strength catching up," Settle said.
Nelson competed at 119, but also has done some growing. Where he'll end up still is in question, either 130 or 135.
Two key seniors on the team are Matt Carlson and Linus Dixon at 160 and 189 respectively. Settle said with those two and Archer, the strength of the team appears to be upstairs in the higher weights.
In the lower weights, MHS has almost all sophomores and freshmen, and will be giving away points at 103 since it doesn't have one.
Settle said what the team is lacking in experience, it's making up for in effort in the practice room. He admits the season will be a learning experience for several of his matmen, but believes the Bullpups will be competitive every time they step on the mat.

SCHEDULE

December
2 -- at Derby.
9 -- Quad (Hutchinson, Goddard, Campus).
16 -- at Salina Central.
18 -- at Rose Hill.

January
7-8 -- at Liberal.
14-15 -- at Newton.
21-22 -- at Hays.
27 -- Maize.
29 -- at Derby.

February
4-5 -- at Rose Hill.
10 -- Triangular (Salina South, Rose Hill).
19 -- Regional.
25-26 -- State.

McPherson Unified School District 418
514 N. Main
McPherson, KS 67460
620-241-9400
It is the policy of McPherson USD 418 not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race,
religion, color, age, or national origin in its educational programs and/or activities, nor in its employment practices.

Comments or suggestions? Contact the Webmaster