Wrestling hopes to a make run back down to Columbus this season

As fall comes to an end, and winter sports begin to make way for their upcoming seasons, like basketball, swimming, hockey, and wrestling. Specifically here at AHS, wrestling has been a strong program throughout the years and a force to be reckoned with. This season should be a special one, particularly because of the very talented freshman this year and the 5 seniors who are returning state qualifiers. Seniors, Colin McNamara, Kyle Peterson, Will Mcghee, Andy Garr, and Jack Gorman hope to continue the tradition of making their way back down to Columbus.

“We’re getting to Columbus this year, shouldn’t even be a question. We are planning on taking at least 10 people as a team this year,” state Peterson and McGhee about their future goals to get to Columbus.

This year’s underclassmen should have a special role in this year’s season as well. Freshmen Nic Willingham, who plans on wrestling in the weight class 106, Evan Anderson, who plans on wrestling in the weight class 182, and Dylan Fishback, who plans on wrestling in the weight class 152 are the favorites of the underclassmen to appear on varsity this season. The underclassmen have a lot of pressure and expectations to live up. All three freshman have a good chance at making a run at states.

“They are working at the same pace as our seniors this year with the same intensity. Probably because of the fact that they have put in the work all summer and they are dedicated to the sport. They have worked with the seniors a lot of their wrestling career and are dedicated,” McNamara explains about the current freshman on the team.

Coach John Papesh also has high expectations for this upcoming season and expects to compete for states as well. He has been coaching at Aurora for six years, and three years as the head coach. As he believes there will be three or four freshman to place at states. However, this year’s senior class has a special place in his heart.

“The experience that the freshman have is what makes this class so special. They have at least 1000 matches under their belt. The senior class however is very special, there has not been a senior class that has had three Division I athletes come through, Garr, Gorman and McGhee,” states Papesh about this year’s team.

The wrestling team should have a very special this season, as the seniors and freshman hope to work together to help bring the team back down to Columbus. As many hope this year’s group boys to bring home a Division II state championship. This year will come down to staying healthy and humble, as the boys and coaches hope to make a run at states.