Photo courtesy of Jim Pressler
Spain Park Wrestling
The Spain Park wrestling team. First row, from left: Jack Rivers, Gavin Pudlick, Caelan March, Emmanuel Thuo, Harry Shaull. Second: Anders Jonas, Ashton Nichols, Jake Harrison, Jacob Sharpe, Jacob Parker. Third: Coach Matt Thompson, Cameron Young, Coach Ryan Thompson, Ryan Campbell, Manny Allen, Coach Klint Starling.
This winter, freshmen and sophomores will be the only ones hitting the wrestling mat for the Jags. With last year’s state placers graduated and sole upperclassman Manny Allan out for the season on a torn ACL, coach Ryan Thompson is leading a team with a lot of new faces.
“This doesn’t mean that our wrestlers lack experience. None of these wrestlers are first year wrestlers. All of them have had prior experience. We have a class of young wrestlers who have a very good work ethic and potential,” Thompson said.
Though he described it as a “rebuilding year” for the SPHS team, the Jags performed well at their first meet, the Huntsville Invitational in December. Three of the six competing wrestlers medaled. Freshman Jack Rivers walked away with the varsity tournament championship in his first varsity meet. Fellow freshman Cameron Perry was the champion of the 7/9 grade tournament, and freshman Jake Harrison took a fourth place medal in the same tournament.
Sophomore Emmanuel Thuo placed 11th in varsity and sophomore Jacob Parker placed 12th. Freshman Jacob Sharpe placed ninth in the 7/9 tournament.
In addition to the talented young wrestlers, Thompson said he is excited about the newly remodeled wrestling room with new equipment, and the large number of middle school wrestlers joining the team this year.
