MFL MarMac Boys Wrestling Preview: Bulldogs return three state qualifiers
The MFL MarMac wrestling team includes (front, left to right) manager Devon Meyer, cheerleaders Avery Kugel, Layla Landt and Desirae Kugel and manager Hadyn Meyer; (middle) cheerleader Alexandria Ames, Tacoma Thompson, Gavin Kishman, Christian Escobar, Draven Stuckman, Benjamin Kite, Parker Muras, Kynlee Baker; (back) head coach Travis Johnson, assistant coach Mike Meyer, Tristan Hoopes, Will Howes, Blake Roe, Maddox Hanson, manager Hayden Halverson, coach Trey Burnikel and coach Elliot Wirkler. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac boys wrestling team is smaller but mighty this season. Of the 10 wrestlers, three are returning state qualifiers.
That includes senior heavyweight Will Howes, who comes into the season ranked second in Class 1A in his weight class. A podium finish at state is one of the goals.
“I’m looking for big things out of him,” said head coach Travis Johnson. “He’s been wrestling for a long, long time...and really embodies what it takes to be a wrestler, the lifestyle.”
Assistant coach Mike Meyer agreed, touting Howes’ strength and mobility. “We have high hopes and high goals of where he’s going to end up this year.”
Junior Gavin Kishman, who’s slated in around 144 or 150 pounds, is another returning qualifier. After picking up some victories in Des Moines, he worked at wrestling and lifting in the offseason to continue improving.
“He’s grown as an individual,” said Johnson. “I believe he’s getting more locked in with more maturity and, just like Will has in the past, we expect him to put many, many falls and many points on the board. Him being a junior, it’s time for him to really step up and show us what he’s got.”
Then there’s sophomore Taco Thompson, who will wrestle at 126 after qualifying as a freshman. Johnson described him as scrappy and tough, and expects Thompson to elevate his craft this season.
“The expectation is a lot higher for him as a sophomore than it is for a lot of sophomores,” the coach noted.
Johnson said the Bulldogs will be top heavy this season, with a few wrestlers at the middle weights and some at the middle lightweights. Along with Howes, sophomores Tristan Hoopes and Blake Roe will wrestle at the upper weights.
Hoopes wrestled in the offseason and was an all-district football player this fall. “He was a JV wrestler last year, but now he’ll fit right into the varsity lineup,” shared Johnson.
Another sophomore Johnson is excited about is Maddox Hanson, who returns to wrestling after a year off.
“The first day of practice, he walked right into this room and picked up like he never left,” Johnson said. “I envision him having a kind of breakout season, especially as a sophomore, because he has the experience from years ago.”
MFL MarMac also has several freshmen, including Parker Muras, Ben Kite, Draven Stuckman and Christian Escobar. They all have heart and are hard workers, according to Johnson. He said consistency will be their best friend as they continue to grow and learn on the mat.
“The more days you come to practice, it’s just like putting a little money in the bank. The more times you put the money in the bank, the better the reward at the end of the year. So getting these freshmen to buy into that and believe it, that’s the goal,” he explained.
With a smaller squad, Johnson, Meyer and other coaches will have more hands-on, one-on-one time with the wrestlers. They aim to make the wrestlers technically better with top notch strength and conditioning.
“The amount of support and the stuff we’ve implemented right away in the season, these kids are going to get better regardless,” Johnson said.
The coach hopes the Bulldogs will remain competitive in duals, but acknowledged it will likely look different this season. Guys may wrestle at multiple weights to give each the best competition and set them up well for the postseason.
“Duals might look a little different than years past, but our goal is still to win the match, win the dual, and once we do that, the rest will take care of itself,” Johnson said.
It’s also a big season for Johnson, who fully takes over as head coach after splitting duties with the now-retired Chet Bachman last season. Johnson’s father was the head wrestling coach at Kirkwood Community College, and the sport is in his DNA. After years assisting at the middle and high school levels, he’s excited to reach this dream.
“I’ve been blessed to be mentored by Chet and Chip McGeough, Colin Stubbs. Being behind those guys for 10 years and seeing what works and how kids respond to them, how they can get these kids to do things and push past their barriers that they didn’t think they could ever do. I’m also trying to cultivate and implement some of the stuff I learned from my high school and college coaches,” Johnson said. “The idea is to take these wrestlers, get them prepared to win that match, but also make sure they’re good human beings and contributors to society outside of this room.”
MFL MarMac was on the mat for the first time this season on Dec. 2, in a quad at Waukon. The team will then compete in the Cascade Duals on Dec. 5.
