March 19, 2024

Miller headlines new-look Mustangs

MONROE — Junior Xavier Miller could be a two-time state qualifier. In his first two seasons, he has gone 66-12 but ran into some tough competition at the district meet.

Miller lost both seasons to wrestlers who wound up on the podium at state.

This season, Miller hopes it’s finally his time as he becomes one of the leaders in the room as PCM’s wrestling team introduces 13 freshmen to a team that already lacks in experience.

The Mustangs’ roster includes one senior, and Nathan Trausch hasn’t wrestled in two years.

So, according to coach Cory Waddell, it will be up to a group of juniors to provide leadership.

Miller is part of that leadership group that also includes Chace Palm, Clayton Welch and Leevi Telfer.

Not even a team that lacks experience will change Waddell’s expectation.

He still thinks the Mustangs can compete for a conference title.

“Our expectations haven’t changed. We expect to compete for a conference championship in both duals and at the invitational,” Waddell said. “It’ll be a well balanced conference, but I certainly expect to be in the mix.”

Miller will climb to 138 pounds this year after finishing 34-7 at 133 a season ago.

He’s the only returner who claimed a winning record last year as the Mustangs lost standouts Tristan Clark (44-4), Ron Marshall (31-6) and Jaret Maggard (28-17) to graduation.

The 13 freshmen that join this year’s squad include four youngsters who placed at the AAU junior high state meet as eighth-graders.

Wes Cummings is a two-time AAU state champion, while Lucas Roland was third last year and Jarron Trausch and Brycen Rogers each placed fifth.

“All those guys have big-meet experience, but it’s not at the high school level,” said Waddell, who begins his fourth year at PCM. “We still don’t know yet how they will fare, but we’ll figure that out in early December.”

Miller was fortunate to have Clark as a workout partner last year.

This year, he gets to train with Roland (132), Cummings (145) and Rogers (126).

“Our goals are the same. He should be on the stand at Wells Fargo,” Waddell said.

PCM has a trio of wrestlers in the lightweights and heavyweights to train together, too.

In the lighter weights, both Palm brothers — junior Chace (106) and freshman Chance (120) — and junior Jakeb Fenton (113) will make each other better, while Welch (170), Nathan Trausch (182) and Telfer (195) will push each other in the upper weights.

“We won’t have a 220 or a heavyweight at any point this year, but we have good groups in each part of the lineup that will push each other to be better each day,” Waddell said.

Clark took his talents to Central College after placing second at 126 pounds last year.

“Overall, what Tristan did will help the program,” Waddell said. “We have 27 kids in the room this year. We only had 20 last year. Are they out because of what Tristan did? I can’t say that, but it didn’t hurt.”