Comanche wrestlers ready to rumble

Comanche wrestlers will be looking to make their mark this season as four state qualifiers return in each of the boys and girls line-ups.

A large crowd attended the annual “Meet the Wrestlers” event on Monday night in the Comanche Elementary School cafeteria.

“It was packed,” said Casy Rowell, head coach. “We served over 400 tacos. I don’t think we were expecting those types of numbers. The food line got big, so it was a little slow, but when you look at it, we were providing a free meal. I’m just thankful we got good sponsors, good donors and good boosters that helped supply and get all that together. It was really special and it gave us the chance to recognize the kids.”

It also gave coaches the chance to talk to the community about what their goals are this year and what coaches are trying to do with team. 

“It was really cool,” Rowell said.

The focus this year will be on the whole program from youth through high school. Besides his regular junior high and high school coaching duties, Rowell is helping out with the youth wrestlers a couple of days a week. 

“There are days when I’m running three practices for kids four years old to 18,” Rowell said. “The vision we have is we’re just trying to create a program that reaches all levels and all ages and trying to create a program that can be successful.”

The way coaches are doing that is by identifying different types of groups and meeting them where they are at and trying to meet their needs. It’s not about age level as it is more about skill level and experience.

“What that means like for beginners is trying to make sure that we get them the kind of treatment and training that they need, versus some of our other ones who are on the high end of what they need,” Rowell said. “Wrestling is such a unique sport. It’s not a one-size-fits-all deal and we’re trying to reach those at all levels. How do we treat them and train them to keep them out? Our main goal is to retain them and to make sure that they’re having fun and they’re and we’re getting better.”

Rowell said they will do things like not require as much from the beginners.

“Our beginners are kind of in the corner, playing games, having fun and laughing,” Rowell said. “There’s not a lot of structure. We’re mainly trying to get them used to being in the room, listening to instructions, which is a challenge, but when we start moving up levels, now we’re introducing techniques and the higher you go up, the more intense it gets and the more accountability you have. I think that’s the right way to approach it because these young kids aren’t coming in and getting discouraged. You can’t expect to put a beginner in the high school room and expect them to work at the same level. They take on someone like Aidan Frye, Matt Hunt or Brook West and some of them are going to get discouraged quickly and not want to wrestle.”

It also works the other way.

“If we only cater to beginners then you’re going to lose the interest of the Matt Hunts and the Brooks and the Ayden Fryes,” Rowell said. “We’ve got six great coaches and we’re able to divvy up duties. And then the same with our youth like Coach Tim, Coach Rylan, Coach Eli Coach Brandon and those guys do a good job with the same type of thing. It’s pretty cool, it’s pretty special.”

Hunt and Frye were state qualifiers last year as were seniors Kanon Clift and Erik Roy.

Rowell is excited to see what Clift can do this season since he will have him healthy from the start. Roy is recovering from a leg injury in football, but he is expected to return next semester where Rowell hopes to get him some matches under his belt before the end of the season tournaments.

Clift is the only returning wrestler on the boys’ side who finished on the medal stand at state, placing fourth. 

Rowell said he is hoping to have all the weight classes covered. He said they have several wrestlers in the middle and more numbers in the upper weights than before, but the lower weight classes do not have the same numbers as the others.

The Indians will be in a new district this year when it comes to qualifying for Dual State, which will include traditional powerhouse Perry. Also different wil be the location. Comanche had hosted the district tournament for the past several years, but this year it will be held in Lexington, which will be about the midway point between Comanche and Perry.

On the girls’ side, senior Brook West will continue to look to build on her legacy by going for her third straight state title, an accomplishment not done by a Comanche wrestler since Konner Doucet got his fourth in 2020.

Rowell said West handles the pressure well of not only the high expectations but also the recruiting process, as she has been contacted by several colleges interested in bringing her talents to their campuses.

Mya Padilla, a state qualifier last year, spent her summer traveling to different tournaments nationwide to gain experience. Rowell thinks it will pay off this season.

“She’s walking around with a lot more confidence,” Rowell said. “It was good for her to be able to do that and to get out of the Comanche bubble and go out and see what everyone else is doing.”

Also returning are state qualifiers Kylie Willer and Celina Quezada. Willer made the trip to the state tournament for the first time last year, while Quezada made her second.  

Rowell thinks Quezada will have a chance to make a big impact as a senior at this year’s state tournament in her final shot.

The coach noted the girls program has really taken off and they will be able to have a wrestler in every weight class this season.