GRIT AND NUMBERS KEY TO MCPHERSON WRESTLING SUCCESS

10 Key Returnees Lead Bullpups/Lady Bullpups

By Staff

MCPHERSON – For the Bullpup boys wrestling program, it’s not a rebuild, just may seem like it while the Lady Bullpup wrestlers return a pair of state qualifiers.

Leading the program now for his second season after heading up a program in Eureka for twelve, Mike Davison will be team assisted by Bullpup coordinator Aaron Dibbens, Lady Bullpup coordinator Jerry Bowen, plus assistant coaches Chet Harlin, Kaden Kretzer, Doug Kretzer, Shannon Wilson and Jace Pavlovich.

The Lady Bullpups finished 5-1 in duals and went 4-0 in winning a league title. Three Lady Bullpups made the trip to the state tournament and while Braelynn Patterson graduated, Hunter Wilson at 155 and Ciara Rawson at 235 are back for their senior and junior seasons. Rawson did well at state by placing fifth.

Besides the pair of state qualifying returnees, the McPherson girls have five other Lady Bullpups returning who have varsity mat time. Among the returnees are seniors Nadia Vesser at 120 and Taiya Young at 130 along with juniors Alix Wilson at 100, Mercedes Ladwig at 105 and Lexi Patterson at 110. The Lady Bullpups have 25 out this season that breaks down to seven seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and eleven freshmen.

As for the Bullpup boys, they finished the season 7-6 overall and went 3-2 in league duals. The only two state qualifiers were freshman Cooper Reves at 157 and Julian Glover at 120. Unfortunately, both have moved out of the district and are no longer available.

Coach Davison will have to replace two long-time Bullpups Treyton Pelnar and Brock Burgess, but he does have a whopping 50 kids out for the boys squad, including twenty freshmen. Among his key returnees will be senior Landon Thompson at 165/175, and juniors Jase Fitzmorris at 165/175 and Brock Richardson at 190.

The Bullpup boys 50 breaks down evenly with eleven seniors, nine juniors, and ten sophomores to compete with the twenty freshmen newcomers. The competition for varsity time will be tough as four weight classes have at least five or six competing and out of 14 total weight classes, only two have less than three competing for mat time.

In his pre-season reflections, coach Davison noted, “We will be a gritty team that works extremely hard. Our coaches and I are excited to get out of the practice room and start competing.”

Both the Bullpups and Lady Bullpup grapplers will open the 2023-24 season on Thursday, November 30 hosting a double dual with Mulvane and Wellington.

MCPHERSON BULLPUP/LADY BULLPUP WRESTLING

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Mike Davison = 2nd Season; Coached 12 seasons at Eureka.

Bullpup Coordinator > Aaron Dibbens

Lady Bullpup Coordinator > Jerry Bowen

Assistant Coaches > Chet Harlin, Doug Kretzer, Kaden Kretzer, Jace Pavlovich, Shannon Wilson

TEAM INFORMATION >

Bullpups 2022-23 Season = Finished 7-6 overall, 3-2 in League Duals, 2 State Qualifiers.

Lady Bullpups 2022-23 Season = Finished 5-1 overall, 4-0 in League Duals, League Champions, 3 State Qualifiers (1 graduated).

MCPHERSON WRESTLING ROSTERS

BULLPUPS 2023-24 ROSTER >

106 > Juniors = Jaime Landeros, John Robben; Freshman = Parker Hulvey, Bryant Simmelink, Kolyn Simon, Maddox Thul.

113 > Freshman = Noah Garcia.

120 > Freshman = Xander Heter.

126 > Senior = Brayden Elbert; Sophomore = Keaton Crane.

132 > Junior = Kaeson Curtis; Sophomore = Chase Wagner; Freshman = Colton Scheetz.

138 > Sophomore = Brock Boyett, Aiden Smith; Freshman = Achilles Palacios, Ryker Ward.

144 > Senior = Zalyn Carson, Kaden Harold, Dalton Robins; Sophomore = Carter Boesker; Freshman = Zack Elbert.

150 > Senior = Ethan Wagner; Sophomore = Jeremy Elbert; Freshman = Jayvonte Body.

157 > Senior = Hayden Farley; Junior = Blake Jarvis; Sophomore = Hunter Davis, Jonah Foster.

165 > Senior = Kale French; Junior = Jace Fitzmorris, Carlos German; Freshman = Matthew Burger, Mason Miller.

175 > Senior = Landon Thompson; Junior = Eli Farley; Freshman = James Fritzemeier, Colton Johnson, Eli Pankratz, Tracen Williams.

190 > Junior = Brock Richardson; Sophomore = Brock Burgess.

215 > Senior = Destry Snyder, Carter Spotted-Elk; Junior = Catch Dlaney; Freshman = Dylan Hall.

275 > Senior = Nicholas Cole; Sophomore = Krayton Byrd; Freshman = Evan Greggory, Jayce Gunn.

LADY BULLPUPS 2023-24 ROSTER >

100 > Junior = Alix Wilson.

105 > Junior = Mercedes Ladwig.

110 > Junior = Lexi Patterson.

115 > Freshman = Lily Vance, Tylee Wilson.

120 > Senior = Nadia Vesser; Freshman = Breanna Sullivan.

125 > Junior = Brooklyn Kutina; Sophomore = Crickett Halbmaier; Freshman = Amara Dossett.

130 > Senior = Taiya Young; Freshman = Rosalyn Linden, Molly Owen.

135 > Junior = Sydney Cummins.

140 > Open.

145 > Junior = Montana Wilson; Freshman = Temerynce Bruner, Madalyn Snook.

155 > Senior = Hunter Wilson, Cristina Pena.

170 > Senior = Amelia Britting, Makayla Gonzales; Freshman = Riley Clemmons.

190 > Senior = Zahar Hobson; Freshman = Heidi Fairchild, Addie French.

235 > Junior = Ciara Rawson.

2023-24 MCPHERSON WRESTLING SCHEDULE >

Thursday, November 30 > Bullpups host Double Dual with Mulvane/Wellington

Thursday, November 30 > Lady Bullpups host Double Dual with Mulvane/Wellington

Saturday, December 2 > Lady Bullpups host 16-Team Invitational

Friday/Saturday, December 8/9 > Lady Bullpups at Great Bend Invitational

Friday/Saturday, December 8/9 > Bullpups at Colby Invitational

Thursday, December 14 > Lady Bullpups at Abilene Invitational

Saturday, December 16 > Bullpups at Abilene Invitational

Thursday, January 4 > Bullpups & Lady Bullpups host Winfield

Friday, January 5 > Lady Bullpups at Burlington Invitational

Saturday, January 6 > Bullpups at Burlington Invitational

Wednesday/Thursday, January 10/11 > Lady Bullpups at Tournament of Champions in Newton

Thursday, January 11 > Bullpups & Lady Bullpups at Circle

Friday/Saturday, January 12/13 > Bullpups at Tournament of Champions in Newton

Thursday, January 25 > Bullpups & Lady Bullpups at Augusta

Saturday, January 27 > Bullpups & Lady Bullpups at Junction City Invitational

Thursday, February 1 > Bullpups & Lady Bullpups host Buhler

Friday/Saturday, February 2/3 > Bullpups at Rose Hill Invitational

Friday/Saturday, February 2/3 > Lady Bullpups at Circle Invitational

Saturday, February 10 > Lady Bullpups at Class 4A Regionals – TBD

Saturday, February 10 > Bullpups at Class 4A Regionals – TBD

Thursday/Friday/Saturday, February 22/23/24 > Bullpups at Class 4A State Tournament in Salina

Thursday/Friday/Saturday, February 22/23/24 > Lady Bullpups at Class 4A State Tournament in Salina

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