A Youth Movement

MONROE — It might just be the end of the first week of the season for PCM wrestling coach Matt Teeter, but he still has a long way to go to determining his lineup.

And the reason can be summed up in one word — youth.

“We’re a very young team all around,” Teeter said. “We have two seniors. We’re so young.”

The Mustangs lost just four seniors — Brandon Teeple, Cory Schmidt, Nick Vanderpool and Ben Nash — and return a total of 28 wrestlers for the season that starts Dec. 3, at Perry.

Teeple and Vanderpool both qualified for the state meet at 112 and 125, respectively, while Nash wrestled at 215. Sophomore Dalton Kingery is the lone returning state qualifier for the Mustangs after taking third place last season at 103 with a record of 40-3.

“We have a couple other kids that he’s been wrestling with,” Teeter said. “It’s good to have someone like him around.”

Kingery will be moving up to 112 this season, leaving 103 as an open spot for the Mustangs. Bryce Wignall will be taking over Schmidt’s spot at 119.

“Cory wrestled half the year and Bryce wrestled the other half,” Teeter said. “He should be at the state tournament this year.”

After a projected open spot at 125, Aaron Peter will be the lone competitor at 130.
“He’s improved a lot,” Teeter said. “He’s been wrestling a lot over the summer. I look for him to have a big year.”

Zach Waddell will be at 130, while West Des Moines Valley transfer Matt Murray will be at the 140 spot for the Mustangs.

“He wrestled JV for them but was very successful,” Teeter said. “That means he’s going to be pretty successful at 2A. I’m not sure how he’s going to be, but he’s going to be over .500.”

Question marks loom at 145 and 152, with Dannon Lanphier eventually moving into the spot at 152, but not until January. Storm Nuzum will be the probable starter at 160, Chris Nash will compete at 171 and Zach Findlow will be at 189.

Moving to 215, that will be held by Dustin Moore. Heavyweight will be either Jacob Toole or Sam DeRuse.