Despite suffering severe losses due to graduation, the Northmor wrestling team still has a number of returnees who have experienced a lot of success while with the Knights.
Northmor graduated four wrestlers with state meet experience in Jake Neer, Matthew Ross, Mason Burger and Nathan Price. However, they return three guys who’ve competed in the state meet, as well as a couple more who’ve advanced to districts.
Senior Conan Becker (145 pounds) is a two-time state placer, who was sixth last year and posted a 47-7 record. Senior Aaron Kitts (28-16, 138) is a two-time state qualifier who was a district runner-up last year. Sophomore Conor Becker (43-8, 160) advanced to the state meet last year as a freshman.
Senior Manny Heilman (18-16, 106) and sophomore Gavin Ramos (17-15, 126) also made trips to the district tournament last year, while Tony Martinez (15-15, 152) was a district alternate. Head coach Scott Carr also listed Austin Amens, Wyatt Collier, Austin Wheeler and Tyson Moore as likely members of his team’s line-up. Collier and Moore are two-year lettermen, while Amens lettered last year.
Carr noted that his team will be strong at the middle weights, with many of their most accomplished grapplers being in those slots; however the graduation losses will hurt the squad in other classes.
“There will be maybe three empty weight classes,” he said. “Numbers are low and we’re losing four state qualifiers from graduation.”
However, the coach notes that the strength of the wrestlers he does have give him reason to set high goals for the season.
“We want to be KMAC champs, in the state duel finals, sectionals and district champs and finish in the top five at state,” he stated.
In the first year of the KMAC, Carr said that Highland is likely to provide the toughest test for his squad as they look for a league championship.
