The Carthage Tiger wrestlers looked like a different team on the mat Tuesday night against area opponents Cassville and Miami. Leaving last week’s opening loss behind them, the Tigers soundly produced victories over Cassville, 54-18 and then Miami, 60-21. The Tiger coaching staff hopes that this is a sign that things are looking up in a year riddled with injuries and weight certification restrictions.
We caught up with three of the Carthage assistant coaches, Nate Kelly, John Petticrew and Clint Spencer, to get their thoughts on the wrestling program as it celebrates its 50th year.
Carthage News Online: Carthage looked tough in last night’s duals. Following last week’s season opening loss to CJ, what did the coaching staff focus on with the team in practice over the last 7 days?
Coach Kelly: One of our best things coming out of the CJ dual was seeing some of our more experienced wrestlers taking a leadership role on the team. Kids started stepping up in terms of holding themselves and their teammates to a higher standard of hard work and accountability.
Coach Petticrew: I think one of the major things that we focused on was just understanding that how you lose makes a difference as far as the team goes (and keeping team points). This is an individual sport yes but there is a team element to it as well.
Coach Spencer: Mentally preparing for a dual and understanding that how you win and lose can affect the outcome of a team score. You must hate losing more than you love winning.
CNO: It is unusual to see open spots in the Carthage lineup – when can we expect to see some of those holes filled?
Kelly: We have several kids out for injuries, but we also have some out for grades. I’m hoping we have some kids who realize the opportunity they have with our team and work more deliberately to bring up their grades as the semester comes to an end.
Petticrew: We are hoping to fill some of the holes in the upcoming week we still have guys coming back from injuries and guys getting down to their competition weights.
Spencer: There is some uncertainty about our lineup, but hopefully we will have most of those holes filled in 2 weeks due to injuries and weight certifications.
CNO: What were some of the highlights for each of you from the Cassville/Miami dual?
Kelly: One of my favorite matches was Coquij at 285 against Miami. Overtime matches always get the crowd excited, and I love the energy he brought to our team. Even though the final outcome was a loss, we still saw some great technique and an athlete who refused to give up.
Petticrew: I think for me just seeing the boys get a little more focused. We have some younger guys and so we got to see some of them get their first varsity win, that just tends to push the hunger for more.
Spencer: What stood out to me in this tri-dual was that our wrestlers came prepared and ready to go. They bounced back from a lack-luster performance in CJ last week. It is a nice confidence boost as we head into the meat of our season.
CNO: All three of you are featured on the back of this year’s team shirts, which lists 50 years of state placers for Carthage. What impact has the sport had on your life and what made you all want to coach here in Carthage?
Kelly: Coaching youth wrestling while I was in high school helped me realize that I was meant to be a teacher. Through teaching and coaching, I have met so many people who have had an impact on my life, and hopefully I have had a positive impact on theirs as well. I’m so glad to serve here on the Carthage coaching staff because of our collective mindset of building better kids on the mat and off.
Petticrew: The sport has taught me a lot; it mirrors life in a lot of ways. If you do not have discipline and structure life can tend to be hard sometimes, but if you have put the work in and prepared, things tend to come a little easier. Easier not easy. As far as coaching, I really feel like our jobs are to prepare these young men for life and it just so happens that we get to participate in the sport that we all enjoy.
Spencer: I have received a ton of help as I have come and gone as a Carthage wrestler. Starting from the youth program and extending throughout my high school career, I will always be eternally grateful for those coaches who helped me. Bobby Groom, Walter Waters, John Petticrew, Bob Holman, Chris Lowe, Keith Espinosa, and Kenny Brown. I owe most of my success to them. I also want to acknowledge my father, Scott Spencer. Wrestling is a great sport to have experience in. It can be just as mentally challenging as it is physically. It helps overcome obstacles that might seem daunting.
CNO: How do you feel the program has changed since you were on the mat as a wrestler?
Kelly: I love that every year we seem to find more ways to teach our athletes lessons they will need throughout their lives. We all understand that our kids’ time in wrestling is limited, but the time we invest in them will help them become successful in life.
Petticrew: The program has grown since I was wrestling. That is a testament to the way Coach Brown has run his program. But honestly the entire sport has evolved since I was in it so it has been fun to see that happen.
Spencer: Aside from the great facilities we have acquired, I think our program has taken tremendous steps in the number of kids interested in wrestling. It is awesome to see so many kids coming out and giving our team depth. I think Carthage has always had a competitive squad and I look to keep that tradition alive.
CNO: What goals have you set for yourself and the program this year?
Kelly: My goal every year is to see kids with a hopeful future, knowing that time spent on our team led to their success. This is a goal that can never fully be measured at the end of the season, but is a lifelong process. For this year specifically, I want to continue seeing kids who are pushing their teammates to be better every day.
Petticrew: As for myself I just want to be able to bring something to the table for these young men. My job is to help them grow and get better and if we can do that, I see that as successful. We have had high expectations team wise coming into this year but as with any sport you have to roll with the punches. Injuries have not been kind to us so far this year, so I am hoping the remainder of our boys can stay healthy and have a fun successful season.
Spencer: I want our guys to have all the success they can. Whether it is the Cal Willie or the State tournament, all our guys have something to improve on. I want to get the most out of every single wrestler. For myself, I just want to become a better coach. It is great to have the coaches we have; I can always learn something from them.
CNO: What is one piece of advice you would give to wrestlers at the high school level today?
Kelly: I would tell the wrestlers to seek out opportunities to learn. Whether on the wrestling mat, in the classroom, or in our community, there is always someone you can learn from. I love coaching those kids who are eager for feedback because they know it will lead to growth.
Petticrew: Enjoy this time – you are only a kid for so long but try to take lessons from it as you go. With having my son on the team, as a dad, these are things I want him to take away from this time. I obviously want to see him be successful, but I have loved watching him mature and grow as a young man along the way.
Spencer: I would just tell our wrestlers to embrace their time they have here. It goes by quick. Leave your mark and strive to be the best you can. For a lot of us, wrestling is over after high school.
Here are the Carthage Wrestling Results from our double dual with Cassville and Miami on 12/07/21. Carthage is now 2-1 on the season. Carthage next wrestles in the Farmington Invitational on 12/11/21 starting at 10:00AM.
Carthage—54
Cassville—18
Carthage—60
Miami—21
Individual Results—Cassville listed first, Miami second
Weight—Name—Grade—Season Record
106—Aydan Nye—9—(2-1)
Won by forfeit
Won by forfeit
113—Wyatt Hole—9—(1-2)
Lost by fall in 1:00 to Kurt Deaver
Won by fall in 0:54 over Michael Bradshaw
120—Christian Brown—12—(2-0)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 1:30 over Elijah Sanda
126—Bradyn Tate—10—(3-0)
Won by fall in 1:15 over Jaret Hinson
Won by fall in 0:28 over Sheldon Mosley
132—Kip Castor—11—(2-0)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 4:17 over Jakob Widby
138—Byron Lopez—12—(2-1)
Lost by fall in 3:27 to Ahkilleus Arguelles
Won by fall in 4:25 over Jack Fitzgerald
145—Eli Sneed—12—(3-0)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 1:46 over Jonas Neece
152—Braxdon Tate—12—(3-0)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 3:34 over Devin Fleming
160—Davion King—11—(3-0)
Won by fall in 1:49 over Jake Anthonyzs
Won by fall in 2:16 over Dillon Blundell
170—Gabe Lambeth—11—(2-1)
Won by fall in 1:01 over Hunter Morse
Won by fall in 0:45 over Ethan Allen
182—OPEN
Double forfeit
Forfeit to Chris Kelley
195—OPEN
Forfeit to Kaden New
Forfeit to Brian Cox
220—OPEN
Double forfeit
Forfeit to Reece Satterwhite
285—Jesua Coquij—10—(1-2)
Won by fall in 0:23 over Bryson Hendrix
Lost by overtime decision 2-4 to Hayden Miller
JV Results
120—Emerson Ixcol—9—(9-1)
Won by fall in 1:59 over Bradley Stumpff—Cassville
152—Trey Nye—11—(10-1)
Won by fall in 2:50 over Adam Kimanzi—Miami
160—Grant Lasley—12—(6-0)
Won by fall in 2:26 over Lucas Haile–Miami
Carthage JV wrestling results from the Frontenac JV Wrestling Tournament on 12/04/21.
Individual Results
Weight—Name—Grade—Tournament Record—Season Record—Placement
106—Indiana Gray—10—(2-2)—(2-4)—3rd
Won by major decision 10-0 over Tyler Pearish—Webb City
Lost by decision 2-3 to Aydan Nye—Carthage
Lost by fall in 2:21 to Tanner Putt—Carthage
Won by forfeit over Braden White—Joplin
106—Tanner Putt—9—(4-0)—(7-2)—1st
Won by fall in 0:23 over Braden White—Joplin
Won by fall in 1:42 over Tyler Pearish—Webb City
Won by fall in 2:21 over Indiana Gray—Carthage
Won by decision 7-2 over Aydan Nye—Carthage
106—Aydan Nye—9—(3-1)—(6-2)—2nd
Won by fall in 1:27 over Tyler Pearish—Webb City
Won by fall in 0:59 over Braden White—Joplin
Won by decision 3-2 over Indiana Gray—Carthage
Lost by decision 2-7 to Tanner Putt—Carthage
120A—Emerson Ixcol—9—(3-1)—(8-1)—2nd
Won by decision 6-1 over Kawlyin Lewis—Chanute
Lost by decision 3-10 to Toryn Jone—Joplin
Won by fall in 1:02 over Ethan Gates—Kickapoo
Won by major decision 12-2 over Ethan Jones—Frontenac
126A—Walter Reyes-Mojica—12—(4-0)—(6-4)—1st
Won by fall in 2:19 over Kayden Most—McDonald County
Won by major decision 9-1 over Ben Holleman—Kickapoo
Won by major decision 12-2 over Alex Stevens—Diamond
Won by decision 8-2 over Bergen Souder—Frontenac
132A—Cody Reeves—12—(4-0)—(4-0)—1st
Won by decision 4-0 over Brooks Ferguson—Fayetteville
Won by decision 4-2 over Harlan Lochlan—Joplin
Won by overtime decision 4-3 over Keaton Colburn—Carl Junction
Won by decision 5-0 over Ira Palmer—Fayetteville
132B—Brandon Perez—9—(3-0)—(3-0)—1st
Won by fall in 2:48 over Aydin Mills—Fayetteville
Won by fall in 0:16 over Harley Lane—Joplin
Won by fall in 1:39 over Troy Arcana—Fayetteville
145A—Abdias Rabanales—9—(3-0)—(3-1)—1st
Won by fall in 3:00 over Wyatt Frasier—Frontenac
Won by fall in 1:15 over Erik River—Har-Ber
Won by fall in 1:06 over Chris Zbranek—Carl Junction
145C—Corey Breese—10—(2-1)—(7-2)—2nd
Won by decision 10-4 over Jake Pittman—Fayetteville
Won by fall in 0:19 over Keegan Tarsney—Kickapoo
Lost by fall in 1:07 to Ishmael Bunglick—Har-Ber
152A—Trey Nye—11—(3-1)—(9-1)—2nd
Won by fall in 0:44 over Joeseph Beranek—Joplin
Lost by fall in 1:11 to Braxten Jones—Carl Junction
Won by fall in 2:56 over Isaac Dalton—Chanute
Won by fall in 1:00 over Erick Sifuentes—Har-Ber
160A—Grant Lasley—12—(4-0)—(5-0)—1st
Won by decision 7-3 over Ethin Winn—Chanute
Won by fall in 1:54 over Jacob Holt—Frontenac
Won by fall in 1:57 over Alex Spencer—Kickapoo
Won by decision 6-5 over Ashton Chambers—Webb City
160B—Esvin Gonzalez—11—(4-0)—(8-2)—1st
Won by fall in 0:27 over Casey Day—Kickapoo
Won by fall in 0:41 over Brayden Swiller—Chanute
Won by fall in 1:28 over Micah Goins—Joplin
Won by fall in 0:38 over Max Farris—Har-Ber
160C—Santos Guzman Gomez—11—(1-2)—(1-2)—3rd
Lost by fall in 2:44 to Wesley Mayo—Kickapoo
Won by fall in 1:10 over Karter Lamb—Joplin
Lost by fall in 1:46 to Nevan Challenger—Carl Junction
285A—Alexander Salas-Marquez—10—(4-0)—(8-1)—1st
Won by fall in 1:28 over Garrett Mathis—Webb City
Won by fall in 2:22 over Alex Reynolds—Har-Ber
Won by fall in 1:19 over Ethan Baker—Chanute
Won by fall in 1:53 over Keyshawn Peavler—Joplin
285B—Jesua Coquij—10—(3-0)—(3-0)—1st
Won by fall in 3:56 over Maurice Clark—Joplin
Won by fall in 3:46 over Justice Rogers—Joplin
Won by decision 3-2 over Gage Peterson–Frontenac
