Wildcat wrestling squad opens season with positive outlook
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School wrestling team could make some noise this season.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I think we’ll be very competitive,” A-J wrestling coach Eric Massey said. “We will be a lot better than last year.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats have been aided by a junior wrestling program.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We have a good group of incoming freshmen who have multiple years of experience at the Junior Wildcat level,” Massey said.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Here’s a look at this year’s Wildcat wrestlers and the weight categories in which they are competing:</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">113 pounds: freshman Clayton Ramage.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">120 pounds: sophomore Paul Hileman and freshman Catie Mays.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">126 pounds: freshman Nate Kisat.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">132 pounds: freshmen Jillian Dover, Bryce Massey and Abraham McClelland.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">138 pounds: juniors Dylan Fox and Cole Lanom.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">145 pounds: senior C.J. Youngman.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">152 pounds: senior Freddie Morse; freshman Nick Sanders.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">160 pounds: senior Blake Mix, freshman Chris Johnson.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">170 pounds: senior Jacob Albert.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">182 pounds: freshmen Ben Dowdy and Kevin Wright s.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">195 pounds: junior Trenton Turner.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">220 pounds: juniors Austin Dillow and Shad Turner.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">285 pounds: junior Nick Jimenez.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We’re going to be solid at each weight class,” Massey said. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Some weights will change as the season progresses. I really feel like we are going to make some noise this season and surprise a few teams.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats opened their season earlier this week at Carterville and compete this weekend in the Lawrenceville Invitational. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats only have one home match this season on Tuesday, Dec. 8, when they host Harrisburg and Pinckneyville. This will be senior night for the team.</span></p>