Standing Tall

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MAXWELL — With two returning state qualifiers and another distict qualifier, the Collins-Maxwell-Baxter wrestling team will be standing tall this year.

Throw in the fact that four other starters return and a few old faces have re-located the wrestling room, the Raiders are primed for success this winter wrestling season.

“We have a shot to get a lot of guys through to districts, but it won’t be easy,” CMB coach Troy Houge said.

Leading the way this season will be state qualifiers Cody Christianson and Zach Leonard as well as district qualifier David Kolpin.

Christianson and Leonard became the ninth and 10th wrestler to qualify for state for CMB since 1995. Leonard went 1-2 at Wells Fargo, while Christianson was 0-2.

This year, the expectations have changed for the better for both wrestlers.

“Zach will have a tough sectional, but he has grown into a heavyweight,” Houge said. “Last year, he bounced back and forth from 215 and heavyweight but that won’t happen this year. And he won’t get outweighed by 30 pounds either.”

Leonard was 28-12 last year and led the team with 29 escapes, 18 falls, 31 takedowns and 184 team points.

“He won’t make many mistakes,” Houge said of his heavyweight. “He is fine with winning his match, 2-1.”

Christianson was 22-15 last year at 103 with nine falls, 26 takedowns and 12 near falls. As a freshman one year ago, he wanted to get to state. Now, the goals and expectations have increased.

“We want to get both Zach and Cody on the stand this year,” Houge said. “Both guys are tactical wrestlers. Cody is good on his feet and Zach is better on the mat.”

Kolpin was fourth at districts last year but is expected to be in the conversation for a state berth. He was 23-10 last year with a team-best 31 takedowns, 19 near falls and 14 reversals.

“He’s capable of a big year, but he’ll have to wrestle well,” Houge said. “It eats at him that he didn’t make it last year. I want him to remember how close he was. He needs to keep after it.”

The other standout returner is junior Jayme O’Hara, who was a district qualifier two years ago.

“He had a pretty tough sectional last year,” Houge said. “We want him to take the next step this year.”

The only open spot this year for the Raiders may come at 145. The rest of the lineup could be filled out by Justin Kirk (103), Christianson (112), O’Hara (119), Nate Peters (125), Chris Kauer (130), Lucas Page (135), Andrew Kasper (140), Kolpin (152), Jameson Hudson(160), Parker Murphy (171), Josh Benton (189), Jordan Gibson (215) and Leonard (heavyweight).

O’Hara went 19-9 last year, while Peters was 12-18 but held the fastest fall of the year at 14 seconds.

The Raiders went 8-15 last year in duals. Houge sees Gilbert as the conference favorite. They won the HOIAC Tournament last season.

The season begins Thursday, Dec. 3, at Perry.

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