Panthers building with youth movement
by Greg Ceilley of The Review staff
PLYMOUTH – Plymouth has a very young, inexperienced wrestling squad but has a strong work ethic and a good attitude.
PHS returns only six letter winners and has just three seniors but has a promising group of 10 freshmen which bodes very well for the program’s future.
Panther head coach Bob Weix is upbeat about the season.
“This season, the numbers are up and the kids have gained more off-season experience. We should compete better in the conference this season,” Weix said.
The Panthers battled much adversity last season which was a key factor in their disappointing showing. PHS finished last in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference tournament and was 0-7 in EWC dual meets. The team had only seven participants in the league tourney.
“We have strong leadership and better numbers of kids and a large freshman class but need to work on filling the weight classes,” he said.
The Panthers didn’t have any wrestlers at the 103 and 112 weight classes going into the season. Junior Clint Wyatt was moved up from 215 to 285 for the Panthers’ dual opener Thursday at Two Rivers.
“The varsity lineup needs to fill weight classes. Some kids need to get down and manage their weight to fill in some classes,” said Weix.
“We are very deep from 152-215 and can plug in a variety of guys but are short at the 103, 112 and 285 weight classes.”
The returning letter winners are senior Wyatt and juniors Dan Uribe, Collin Rortvedt, Lukas Ohman, Justin Lesko and Zach Pfankuch. Uribe and Lesko were sectional place-winners last season. Uribe took sixth at 119 and Lesko was fifth at 145.
Ohman is the team’s top returning EWC tourney finisher with fourth at 160. Wyatt captured fifth at 215 and junior Brandon Wiggins was sixth at 140.
The coach expects Rortvedt (125-130), Ohman (152-160) and Pfankuch (171) to lead the Panthers this season. Most of the varsity lineup is new and Weix said he will see who will be impressive as the season progresses.
Weix pointed out the keys to having success and improving over last season.
“Work hard, be disciplined, and finish what you start, and learn to wrestle with a controlled attitude,” he emphasized.
“I do expect to improve after last season because of the smart, disciplined kids I have on the squad this season. The kids we have are working very hard to accomplish and set new standards for our program.
“Our kids work harder than anyone else and these qualities will transfer over to real life and will be something they will carry through the rest of their lives,” Weix said.
“Our kids in the [wrestling] room are always looking to become better at everything they do. This is education and they are willing to make the sacrifice to understand the sport and what it has to offer.”
Weix tabs Sheboygan Falls his favorite to win the EWC championship, followed by Kewaskum and Campbellsport, respectively. Kewaskum won the 2009 league tournament and Falls was a close second.
Falls is ranked No. 8 in Crossface’s Division 2 preseason poll and Kewaskum received votes.
The coach noted his major goals for the season:
“Get out of the bottom of the conference and win more than five duals this season as a team. Keeping kids eligible and teach them the importance of school/athletics. Becoming a responsible person in and outside of school.”
PLYMOUTH
WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Dec. 3 – at Two Rivers
Dec. 5 – Freshman Invite, here
Dec. 10 – Kiel, here
Dec. 12 – at Hartford Tourney
Dec. 12 – at Port Wash. JV Tourney
Dec. 15 – at Kewaskum
Dec. 19 – Marty Loy Invite (JV-V), at FDL
Dec. 28 – at Merrill Invitational
Dec. 29 – at Merrill Invitational
Jan. 5 – New Holstein, here
Jan. 9 – Plymouth Invitational, here
Jan. 14 – Campbellsport, here
Jan. 16 – at Sheboygan Falls JV Invite
Jan. 16 – at Racine Case Invite
Jan. 19 – at Sheboygan Falls
Jan. 23 – at Ozaukee JV Invite
Jan. 23 – at Sheboygan North Tourney
Jan. 26 – Waupun, here
Feb. 6 – EWC Tourney, at New Holstein
Feb. 13 – Regional, at Kaukauna
PLYMOUTH
WRESTLING ROSTER
Seniors – Devon Reiderer (130 pounds), Jacob Miller (152), Tyler Bogart (160), Eric Benti (171) and *Clint Wyatt (215).
Juniors – *Dan Uribe (125), *Collin Rortvedt (130), Brandon Wiggins (145), *Lukas Ohman (160), Nathan Kirk (160), *Justin Lesko (160), *Zach Pfankuch (171), and Geno Kiela (189).
Sophomores – John Pruitt (215).
Freshmen – Steven Lesko (119), Tanner Neils (119), Christion Flores (130), J.J. Seifert (135), Andrew Meyer (135), Tim Edwards (135), Sam Ahrens (135), Jacob Ohman (140), Raven Welsch (140) and Bryce Lueck (171).
* = Returning letter winner.
