Five state qualifiers from last season's team return for another go at it this year as part of a promising group of wrestlers take to the mats at Plains High School. 

Preseason practice got underway recently as head coach Jesse Jermyn welcomed a group of 16 grapplers including John Waterbury, who placed fourth in the state last year at 152 pounds. Waterbury is working to rehabilitate an ankle injury suffered during this year’s football season at Hot Springs, a co-op partner with Plains in wrestling, but is hoping to be ready to go soon. 

Also back from last year is Waterbury’s football teammate Hot Springs, David Chapman, who qualified for state last year at 170 pounds, Gaven Schrenk, a state qualifier at 126 pounds, Beau Crabb, state qualifier at 138 and Matthew Thurston, who qualified for state last year as a113 pounder. 

Back for the girls' team are Ireland Corbin 133 pounds, Tania Verenchuk, a Ukrainian exchange student, state cross country champion Marina Tulloch and Aly Roy. 

In addition to the returning state qualifiers, Jermyn and assistant coach Rocky Wagoner have a solid group of returnees and newcomers, led by Brock Ryan, Cody West, Isian Shulze and Andrew Waterbury.  Newcomers include Remmington Ryan, John Owen Jermyn (state cross country runner) BillyRay Holatta, Blaine Hamilton and Johnny Felix. 

Gone from last year’s team are Drew Carey, Gabe Rasmussen, Davin Barnes and Brenden Schrenk. 

“We have a good mix of experience among the team,” coach Jermyn said. “Our seasoned wrestlers are returning from a previous season where they competed very well, and they know the small changes they need to achieve the next level.  There are a couple of newcomers who are giving us good depth”. 

Conditioning will be an added emphasis this year, as evident by the pre-practice outdoor running the team does every other practice, rain or shine. 

“We will be focusing on adding more strength training to the program,” Jermyn said. “We haven’t set individual or team goals yet. Once we do our focus areas will adjust”. 

Plains faces a tough schedule this year, beginning with the Owen Invitational last weekend in Polson.  Three Horsemen grapplers placed fifth in the prestigious meet, including Schrenk, Brock Ryan and Crabb. 

“We will always have strong teams in Class B,” he said. “We’re not overwhelmed by any of them.  The strongest returning class B teams in our area are Lincoln County (Eureka) and Florence.  Superior (Class C) always bring tough wrestlers and we can never overlook Thompson Falls or Mission.  Arlee continues to build each year and what was a younger team now has some seniority”. 

This coming weekend Plains will travel to Superior to compete in the Bob Kinney Invitational. 

    Hot Springs track coach and assistant football coach (left) works with Hot Springs student David Chapman during preseason practice for the Plains-Hot Springs wrestling team this week in Plains.  (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)