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Panther, Pioneer wrestling have high hopes for season
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| Expectations are extremely high in Woodland Park this year and head coach Brian Giesinger has the boys thinking a league title may be in their reach.Photo by Marvin Olberding |
Marvin Olberding
The end of last year’s Cripple Creek/Victor wrestling season centered around a fallen Pioneer teammate. It was Valentine’s Day when Ryan Bowman suffered a stroke, two days before the Pioneers were scheduled to go to regionals.
Bowman’s absence weighed heavily on the team, and although teammate James Thompson made it through and advanced to the state tournament, Bowman’s health was still of the utmost concern.
An all-star high school wrestling tournament, which included a 2008 Olympian serving as a guest coach, was one of a few events organized to raise money for Bowman’s medical bills. Questions remained as to how long the young man would feel the lingering effects of the episode, and what those would be.
Now, just nine months later, Bowman is back on the mat, preparing with his teammates for his senior season like nothing’s happened.
“He’s looked really good,” Pioneer head coach Mike Akana said of Bowman, who will likely compete at 160 pounds. “He’s been really focused, and he hasn’t had any after-effects of the stroke that I’ve seen.”
Thompson, now a junior, will look to improve on last year’s showing, where he went to the state tournament but was eliminated after losing his first two matches. After competing at 103 pounds, Thompson has grown to the point where he’s likely to move up a few weight classes, possibly to 125 pounds.
While the talent is clearly there for Thompson, Akana said he’s anxious to see how his junior makes the jump.
“James has to really let the technical side of the sport catch up to where he’s at, size-wise,” Akana said. “I kind of want to see what happens when he gets out on the mat this year.”
Sophomore transfer Kurtis Arneson and freshman Tanner Watkins round out the Pioneer roster. Arneson, coming in from Florence, will likely compete at 119 pounds while Watkins will wrestle at 103.
Although he has a small group, Akana says he’s got the same lofty goal in mind for all four athletes.
“I want to qualify my four kids for state, and I’d like to place someone at the state tournament,” Akana said. “That would be a good step in the right direction.”
Panther wrestling team eyes league title
With a lineup loaded with experience and two state tournament participants, it’s understandable that Woodland Park wrestling coach Brian Giesinger is looking forward to the 2008-09 season.
“Right now, all I can be is optimistic and think that we’re going to do very well,” Giesinger said. “Maybe even win our league, and that hasn’t been done in more than 20 years now.”
Seniors Rhys Ackart and Jacob “Bubba” Smith headline this year’s Panther squad. Ackart, who competed in the state tournament last year, is expected to compete at either 152 or 160 pounds, while Smith will compete in the 215-pound class. Giesinger said the duo leads by example, and he hopes their attitudes will be contagious with their teammates.
“[Rhys] and Bubba are both classic examples of kids who have done it,” Giesinger said. “Now they’re just refining they’re technique, and you can tell it’s becoming more and more enjoyable for them.”
Giesinger will also look for senior leadership from heavyweight Cody Bell and 125-pounder T.J. Thomas, a competitor that Giesinger thinks could put together a solid year.
“I expect him to win a lot of matches and surprise some people, and I’ve told him that,” Giesinger said.
Another Panther who has been known to surprise a few opponents is Shawn Stahuljak, a 119-pound sophomore who trains year-round in judo and that Giesinger considers “fun to watch.”
Other athletes to watch are freshman Louie Neil, a natural athlete competing at 160 pounds; sophomore Tyler Flournoy, who is expected to join the team at 140 or 145 pounds after the Christmas break as he recovers from a broken leg he sustained during football season; and Lee Stunkard, a hard-nosed, tough 189-pounder.
The Panthers will also have three girls competing for the 103-pound spot in the varsity line-up: freshmen Rachel Britton, Kayla Jackson and Natasha Jamison.
While he’s hoping for a league title, Giesinger knows it won’t be easy, as 5A programs Wasson, Mitchell and Sand Creek will join an already tough league. But then again, he says he hasn’t had a team like this, either.
Woodland Park will get its first test Dec. 3, at home with a dual meet against Palmer.
The end of last year’s Cripple Creek/Victor wrestling season centered around a fallen Pioneer teammate. It was Valentine’s Day when Ryan Bowman suffered a stroke, two days before the Pioneers were scheduled to go to regionals.
Bowman’s absence weighed heavily on the team, and although teammate James Thompson made it through and advanced to the state tournament, Bowman’s health was still of the utmost concern.
An all-star high school wrestling tournament, which included a 2008 Olympian serving as a guest coach, was one of a few events organized to raise money for Bowman’s medical bills. Questions remained as to how long the young man would feel the lingering effects of the episode, and what those would be.
Now, just nine months later, Bowman is back on the mat, preparing with his teammates for his senior season like nothing’s happened.
“He’s looked really good,” Pioneer head coach Mike Akana said of Bowman, who will likely compete at 160 pounds. “He’s been really focused, and he hasn’t had any after-effects of the stroke that I’ve seen.”
Thompson, now a junior, will look to improve on last year’s showing, where he went to the state tournament but was eliminated after losing his first two matches. After competing at 103 pounds, Thompson has grown to the point where he’s likely to move up a few weight classes, possibly to 125 pounds.
While the talent is clearly there for Thompson, Akana said he’s anxious to see how his junior makes the jump.
“James has to really let the technical side of the sport catch up to where he’s at, size-wise,” Akana said. “I kind of want to see what happens when he gets out on the mat this year.”
Sophomore transfer Kurtis Arneson and freshman Tanner Watkins round out the Pioneer roster. Arneson, coming in from Florence, will likely compete at 119 pounds while Watkins will wrestle at 103.
Although he has a small group, Akana says he’s got the same lofty goal in mind for all four athletes.
“I want to qualify my four kids for state, and I’d like to place someone at the state tournament,” Akana said. “That would be a good step in the right direction.”
Panther wrestling team eyes league title
With a lineup loaded with experience and two state tournament participants, it’s understandable that Woodland Park wrestling coach Brian Giesinger is looking forward to the 2008-09 season.
“Right now, all I can be is optimistic and think that we’re going to do very well,” Giesinger said. “Maybe even win our league, and that hasn’t been done in more than 20 years now.”
Seniors Rhys Ackart and Jacob “Bubba” Smith headline this year’s Panther squad. Ackart, who competed in the state tournament last year, is expected to compete at either 152 or 160 pounds, while Smith will compete in the 215-pound class. Giesinger said the duo leads by example, and he hopes their attitudes will be contagious with their teammates.
“[Rhys] and Bubba are both classic examples of kids who have done it,” Giesinger said. “Now they’re just refining they’re technique, and you can tell it’s becoming more and more enjoyable for them.”
Giesinger will also look for senior leadership from heavyweight Cody Bell and 125-pounder T.J. Thomas, a competitor that Giesinger thinks could put together a solid year.
“I expect him to win a lot of matches and surprise some people, and I’ve told him that,” Giesinger said.
Another Panther who has been known to surprise a few opponents is Shawn Stahuljak, a 119-pound sophomore who trains year-round in judo and that Giesinger considers “fun to watch.”
Other athletes to watch are freshman Louie Neil, a natural athlete competing at 160 pounds; sophomore Tyler Flournoy, who is expected to join the team at 140 or 145 pounds after the Christmas break as he recovers from a broken leg he sustained during football season; and Lee Stunkard, a hard-nosed, tough 189-pounder.
The Panthers will also have three girls competing for the 103-pound spot in the varsity line-up: freshmen Rachel Britton, Kayla Jackson and Natasha Jamison.
While he’s hoping for a league title, Giesinger knows it won’t be easy, as 5A programs Wasson, Mitchell and Sand Creek will join an already tough league. But then again, he says he hasn’t had a team like this, either.
Woodland Park will get its first test Dec. 3, at home with a dual meet against Palmer.
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