Mavericks Wrestling 2016-17 Signing Class
The 2016-2017 Mavericks have arrived on campus and Coach Sebaaly is happy to announce the newest ensemble of wrestlers who join a small core of returners for the NJCAA program.
At 125 the Mavericks will have a new face as last years starter Levi Maes has graduated and transferred to CSU-Pueblo. Looking to take his place includes Sean Dolan a 4-time state champion out of St. Marks in Delaware; Chris Hernandez out of arguably the best program in Arizona, Sunnyside High School; Colorado State place finisher Fabian Guerrero of Dolores Huerta Preparatory High; Noah Navarre from Indiana will also provide depth at this weight class.
Local Goodland High School graduate and Kansas State place finisher Austin Hernandez hopes to continue to entertain the Goodland crowd at 133 as he has stayed in town to continue his education as part of the Communications Technology program. Skylar Widmer from Marysville, Kansas also looks to compete at 133 after he finishes running cross-country this fall. Out of state neighboring Colorado offers three potential contributors in Colorado State place finisher Jesus "Freddy" Morales, CHSAA state qualifier Juan Rubio, and Xavier Solis of Dolores Huerta Preparatory High. Al Brown out of Missouri offers a scrappy athletic style and may see time at both 125 and 133 this year.
Oklahoma State Champion Ray Merriman of Del City, Oklahoma will look to start the season at 141 and possibly drop down to 133 later in the year. Pushing Ray will be a strong group of wrestlers from a number of different states. Steven Mendoza and James Taylor state placers out of Texas, and Dalton Mason a state placer out of Arizona will also see time this year on the mat for the Mavericks.
The 149 and 157 pound weight classes will look towards returning national qualifier at 149 pounds, Dominique Evans to provide leadership for a young Mavericks squad. Division 1 transfer and four time New York State place finisher, Ryan Snow will also look to earn the starting spot at one of these weights as this is one of the most deep groupings on the Maverick roster. Nevada State Champion Vince Evenson, Colorado Freestyle State Champion and CHSAA state place finisher Adrian Kois, and Ryan Dolan a national runner up in ju-jitsu round out a strong group of guys who look to manage these two weights.
Texas leads the charge at the next weight with three members of the Lone Star State looking to contribute for the Mavericks at 165. Zach Diaz a two time state champion out of Boys Ranch will look to provide an immediate impact in the lineup, while Austin Elseimer and Michael McCray will provide depth at this weight.
At 174 pounds the Mavericks will be looking to Concordia (NE) transfer and NAIA National Qualifier Trey Cooke to help pace the upper weights. Discovery Canyons' Schyler James a state place finisher out of Colorado will also be looked to at this weight. Evan Larsen a state place finisher out of Indiana may see time at this weight as well, though he is expected to start the season at 184 pounds.
Turah Reed last year's starter for the Mavericks at 197 looks to drop down to 184 this season for the Mavericks; Kyle Rodriguez a two time Arizona State Champion will also look to break into the lineup at 184 and or 197 pounds. Bailey Cox a native of Colorado will also provide depth at both of these weight classes for the team. Brandon Anderson a state champion out of Julesburg, Colorado and Chance Shull of Hutchinson, Kansas will be competing at 197 for the Mavs.
Finishing up with the heavyweights, the farthest traveled wrestler Odgree Batkhishig from Mongolia arrives in Goodland having placed 5th the Junior Freestyle Asian Continental Championships. Torrey Reinhart from Idaho, returns from shoulder surgery that prematurely ended his season last year. State qualifiers from California (Jimmy Zarrate), Georgia (Keith Jones), Arizona (Mike Uehling) and Colorado (Chris Gutierrez) fill out the team.
The Mavericks will kick-off their season at home in the Maverick scrimmage October 28th before heading to Wayland Baptist University, November 1st.