http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/articles/2005/11/30/sports/sports1.txt Sports
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2005 Last modified: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 12:58 PM CST
Bullpups have youthful look
By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor
Maybe it should be the McPherson Bullpups wearing the green jerseys here Thursday instead of the Derby Panthers.
Green would seem to suit the Bullpups this wrestling season, as they are going to send out a youthful team for their first match of the season.
Mat time in the MHS auxiliary gym is set for 6 p.m.
Veteran coach Rich Settle is working with a squad of 28, and it's a group that's ready to leave the practice room to see where it stacks up.
“We've had a great start,” Settle said. “There's been plenty of effort and we're well ahead of where we were last year.”
However, nearly two-thirds of Settle's lineup to take the mat against Derby consists of sophomores and freshmen. There could be seven sophomores and two freshman filling spots.
“We need to wrestle someone else,” Settle said. “I'm pretty confident in some of these younger guys.”
For now, though, it's the veterans who will lead the way. Five wrestlers with state experience lead the charge to the mat against the Panthers.
The headliner is 145-pounder Levi Sides, who is attempting to become only the third Bullpup to medal each of his four years. He was fifth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and third last year at 140 pounds, winning 30 matches.
“He's really been looking good,” said Settle, noting that Sides could come back down to 140, but at this point seems comfortable at 145.
Also back is Alex Whitehill, who won 29 matches last year at 160 but has muscled up to 189 pounds, where his quickness should be second to none. “He's really been getting after it,” Settle said.
Billy Turner at 119, Jeff Graber at 160 and Tony Peterson at heavyweight are other wrestlers to made state last year.
Derby should provide Settle a measuring stick for his team. The Panthers won the dual last year, and Settle said they have two wrestlers of national caliber. Derby also is very strong in the lower weights, so it will be key for MHS to at least stay within striking distance for the first half of the match.
“Last year when we went down there, we walked in and they had 32 freshmen. We don't even have 32 wrestlers,' Settle said, noting the Bullpups have a much shallower pool to choose from than the 6A Panthers.
Here is the probable MHS starting lineup Thursday:
103 -- Barton Hageman
112 -- Trevor Tillett
119 -- Billy Turner
125 -- Justin Khan
130 -- Miles Wenger
135 -- Dan Turner
140 -- Nathan Wedel
145 -- Levi Sides
152 -- Alan McMurray or Skylar Anderson
160 -- Jeff Graber
171 -- Derek Payne
189 -- Alex Whitehill
215 -- Sam Wentling
HWT -- Tony Peterson