The Waterloo High School wrestling team has impressed so far this season, and expectations are high for a strong finish.

The Bulldogs are 14-1 in dual competitions, including wins over state-ranked Marion and Cahokia.

“The season record for dual team wins in a season is 16, I believe, so we are trying to surpass that mark this season,” Waterloo head coach Chase Guercio said. 

Waterloo placed ninth of 30 teams at the Civic Memorial tournament and then won the Marion dual team tournament, breaking Marion’s 24-match win streak in the process.

Guercio said his program saw a large number of wrestlers sign up to play this winter, which was a good problem to have.

“At the beginning of the season we had to deal with an issue we never saw coming in that we did not have enough practice space for all of our wrestlers,” he said. “We had 70 kids come out for the team initially, and it was not safe for us to confine practice to our usual space. We had to get creative for a while but over time, a few kids dropped or got injured and now we are sitting at around 50 kids at any given practice.”

Guercio said the Southern Illinois Bulldogs youth wrestling club has done a great job of growing the sport locally, and his assistant coaches did a great job of recruiting the halls to get kids out. 

“Additionally, we have had more girls come out for the team than ever before, and it has been great to see them develop as wrestlers so far this season,” he said.

Top performers for Waterloo so far this season include junior captain Jackson Deutch, freshman Jaxson Mathenia and sophomore Konnor Stephens. 

Deutch wrestles in the 175-pound class. He has a record of 22-6 and has defeated five ranked wrestlers already this season. 

“He has been a starter for us since his freshman year, and he has made unbelievable strides over the last two years,” Guercio said. “The kids respect him and he does a great job of leading by example.”

Mathenia is 19-3 in the 190-pound class. He won the Civic Memorial and Mascoutah tournaments and placed eighth at Granite City.

“It is impressive that he has had so much success in a weight class typically dominated by upperclassmen,” Guercio said. “He won an IKWF state championship last year for the Southern Illinois Bulldogs, and he has limitless potential as he continues to progress through his wrestling career.”

Stephens is 21-9 in the 120-pound division. He won an individual regional championship last season at 106 pounds. 

“I look for him to make a strong run to the state tournament this season,” Guercio assessed.

Others who have been solid for the Bulldogs thus far include freshman Matthew Deutch (19-6 at 106 pounds) and juniors Ty Kinzinger (19-11 at 126 pounds) and Bladen Sease (18-9 at 150 pounds). 

On deck for the Bulldogs is a tournament in St. Charles, Mo., this weekend.

Then it’s time for the Mississippi Valley Conference duals on Jan. 27 and regionals on Feb. 3.

“I think this could be the best team we have ever had, and the kids have high expectations for the end of the season,” Guercio said.