WHS wrestlers keeping eyes on the prize
The Waterloo High School wrestling squad is coming off a very successful 2013-14 season, falling just short of winning a first-ever Mississippi Valley Conference title.
The 2014-15 Waterloo High School wrestling team is, from left, front row, Sam Oliver, Cory Cissel, Jeremy Oliver, Carter Pate and Bryce Kirk; second row: Mac Mundy, Cody Cissel, Cole Lawrence, Kevin Haley, Austin Stewart, Max Jennings and Zach Shaw; and third row: Coach Paul Viglasky, Coach Pat Stewart, Kory Johnson, Kory Schaefer, Dylan Siebenberger, Kerstan Panzau, Paul Stewart, Zach George and Coach Jeff Stafford. (Kermit Constantine photo)Coach Pat Stewart sees no reason why they can’t achieve that success this year, and maybe more. He will have a strong stable of returning grapplers as well as some good new young talent.
The Bulldogs roster includes Zach Shaw, Bryce Kirk and Samantha Oliver in the 106-pound class. Shaw will wrestle the majority at 113 pounds until tournament time, Stewart said.
Cory Cissell (120) and Cody Cissell (126) return after successful season’s last year. Carter Pate (132), Paul Stewart (138), Mack Mundy (145) and Dylan Siebenberger (145) have also impressed early on.
Austin Stewart (152), Jeremy Oliver (152), Max Jennings (160), Cole Lawrence (160), Kerstan Panzau (170), Kory Schaefer (182), Kory Johnson (195) and heavyweight Zach George (220) anchor the Waterloo wrestlers.
The ‘Dogs are in Class 2A and finished third in the Mississippi Valley Conference last year with a match record of 17-5.
Waterloo returns three wrestlers who made it to sectionals last season. Austin Stewart, Zach Shaw and Paul Stewart will try to get there again.
Coach Stewart would not be surprised if they had five or six kids qualify for sectionals and possibly even advance to state.
“We have some really good kids coming back this year. Besides the three who have been to sectionals, I think Mundy, Jennings, the Cissell brothers, Schaefer and Panzau could all make sectionals and even state
if they wrestle like they are capable of,” the coach said. “Johnson is a good young wrestler and George is coming on to help us at the 220 level and I think he will do well.” Waterloo is currently 3-1 on
the season and ranked 17th in the state.
“We would love to win the conference this year and also win regionals, both which Waterloo has never done. We want to be the first,” Stewart said.
“We would also like to get some kids individual state medals, which we have never done.”
Stewart is also trying to recruit more youngsters to get involved in wrestling, so when they get to the high school level,they are ready to go.
“We have the only wrestling program in this area. We are looking pretty good and have some good experience,” he said.
“We will battle hard and see what happens.”
