With the high school wrestling season in full swing, the Milton Panthers already have much improved depth on their roster for the current season. Head Coach David Bohannon said this season’s roster has 30 members in which last year’s roster had only 10.
“It definitely helps having the influx in depth,” Bohannon said. “We are working through a lot of those guys who are first year wrestlers.”
Bohannon said his team is improving with each practice and match they compete, adding this team is much improved at this point in the season from where they were last year.
“Out of 14 weight classes, we only had 10 wrestlers,” Bohannon said. “It limits you in what you could do.”
With no seniors on this year’s roster, Bohannon said many of the members from last year helped recruit more members for this season.
“I challenged my returning wrestlers to go out and bring guys into the program and we talked with some of the middle schools and we had a summer camp,” Bohannon said. “A lot of it falls on them going out and recruiting teammates from other sports or ROTC…that has helped up tremendously.”
While many of the incoming members work on gaining experience, Bohannon anticipates sending at least four wrestlers to regional competition.
In his junior year, Hunter Hall, a heavyweight in the 285 category, is expected to be leader on this year’s roster. Although starting wrestling may come with many defeats in the circle, Hall said it his job to keep younger wrestlers with a healthy mindset.
“If you lose a match you will get a chance to redeem yourself eventually,” Hall said. “Never underestimate anybody.”
At six feet, six inches tall and weighing at 260 pounds, Hall is picking up where he left off. He is currently undefeated this season and went undefeated last year.
While Hall is off to a great start, Jacob Kite is one of several freshmen learning the ropes on the team. Part of the learning curve was being out matched by his opponent in the 126 weight class, during this season’s first match against Gulf Breeze High School.
“I lost the first match I wrestled in…but I learned something from that match,” Kite said. “I noticed that I need to get speed, I need to get faster.”
While Kite looks to improve upon his speed in the wrestling circle along with other skill sets, he does have greater accomplishments in mind.
“I actually want to go to state…and my focus is to be the best that I can be at it,” he said. “My uncle and my dad believe I can be one of the best wrestlers on the team, so that is what I am striving for…to be one of the best.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Wrestling: Milton sees growth, potential for upcoming members