SOLON — The varsity boys wrestling team went 10-6 overall in dual meets last season, good for fifth place in the WaMaC conference. Coach Aaron Hadenfeldt, in his tenth year with the program, and second at the helm, said this year’s squad brings back multiple starters from last year, highlighted by junior Jordan Schmidt and senior Kyler Jessup.
Schmidt finished seventh in Class 2A at 132 lbs. at last year’s State Meet while Jessup was a State Qualifier at 120.
“We return a good amount of experience but are still young. We will look to those with experience to provide leadership and uphold the high standards in our wrestling room,” Hadenfeldt said. “We will have a strong freshman class this year with some of them competing for a varsity spot.”
Historically the WaMaC has been, arguably, one of the toughest conferences, and Hadenfeldt expects nothing less this year. “The conference is as tough as ever with seven teams ranked in the top-20. The good news is that this kind of schedule prepares us for the end of the season, and our kids will be tested come postseason; and we like that. I’m excited about the group and to see how they compete. Wrestling relies a great deal on your mentality, and I think we’ve got the chance to be right up there with the best of them in the conference this year.”
Jacob Feuerbach (sixth year), JJ Cooper (second year), TJ Bevans (20th year), Ryan Schott (second year), Ryan Osgood (fifth year), and Ryan Leonard (fourth year) will assist Hadenfeldt this season, which opens Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2 with Independence’s tournament. Solon’s first home meet is set for Thursday, Dec. 7 as Cedar Rapids Prairie and Williamsburg visit with a 6:00 p.m. start.
The Spartans congratulate Kyler Jessup on his win by fall (in 1:56) over Mt. Vernon’s Drew Thurn Thursday, Jan. 19 on Senior Night.