ROGERS — Rogers Heritage returns just two medalists from last year’s team, which finished ninth at the Class 6A-7A state wrestling tournament, but coach Doug Freeman’s still excited that the War Eagles can be much improved this season.
“With so many young kids last year, we’re more mature and relatively deep,” Freeman said. “We’re not loaded everywhere, but we’ve got guys who wrestled varsity who are sitting JV this year. We’re spread out and only have one spot where we’re thin and that’s heavyweight.
“It’s a good problem to have. We’re improved, but now we’ve gotta go out and prove it on the mat.”
Senior Logan Evans, the defending state champion at 138 pounds, returns at that same weight class and should be the favorite to repeat, Freeman said. However, Evans and Heritage’s other returning medalist, Caleb Royal, have been injured.
Royal suffered a broken wrist in the offseason, but has been back on the mat for the last month. Evans has dealt with a strained medial collateral ligament in his knee. Freeman isn’t sure he’ll be ready for Tuesday’s season opener.
“We’ll take it slow,” Freeman said. “We need him healthy in February. We’re not going to rush him.”
Royal, who finished fifth at 106 pounds, has moved up to 120 this season as a sophomore.
“He doesn’t look like the same kid physically,” Freeman said.
Senior Cole Penny is one of two or three War Eagles, who were on the cusp of medaling a year ago, but came up short.
Penny said this year’s team chemistry is better and the individuals have dedicated themselves to getting better, including working hard over the summer. Penny lost one match short of a medal last year.
“I think we have more leadership this year,” Penny said. “I’m very excited. I think we’ve gotten to know each other better as a team.”
Freeman agreed.
“We have people who are holding others accountable in practice every day,” Freeman said.
Freeman acknowledged last year was tough overall with so many young, inexperienced wrestlers, but he sees many of them in a different light this season.
“I really think we should be back in the top five,” Freeman said. “We don’t have weak spots. For the most part, we can put 12 weight classes out there that can compete.”
He expects others like Colton Stewart (152) and Jordan Vazquez (182) to show well. Junior Tyler Leis spent most of last season injured and junior Jeremy Hill looks “smooth” at 145.
Heritage also has first-year wrestlers like Brandon White (170) and Hunter Chasteen (220), who are good athletes and could make an impact.
Freeman also expects a tough schedule early to pay dividends.
“We got to Miami, Okla. and that really helped us last year,” Freeman said. “I remember we took a lot of first-year kids over there and the first day was tough, but they got better going against those Oklahoma kids. It was a wake-up call to some of our kids.”
“Then we’ve got NWA Duals and then we go to Springfield, Mo. Springfield’s definitely tougher than our state tournament.”
Rogers Heritage 2012-13 Wrestling Schedule
Date Location Time
Nov. 27 at Gentry, Berryville 6 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Van Buren 6 p.m.
Dec. 7-8 at NWA Duals at Springdale Har-Ber TBD
Dec. 11 at Springdale Har-Ber 6 p.m.
Dec. 14-15 at Miami, Okla. Tournament TBD
Dec. 27-28 at Springfield, Mo. Holiday Tournament TBD
Jan. 12 at Berryville Tournament TBD
Jan. 15 vs. Greenwood/Union Christian 6 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Bentonville Tournament TBD
Jan. 22 vs. Fort Smith Northside/Fort Smith Southside at Rogers High 6 p.m.
Jan. 25-26 at Seneca, Mo. Tournament TBD
Feb. 2 at Russellville Tournament TBD
Feb. 5 vs. Bentonville/Fayetteville 6 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Russellville Dual Tournament TBD
Feb. 16 Big West Tournament at Fort Smith Northside TBD
Feb. 22-23 State Tournament at Stephens Center, UALR TBD