Perry wrestling head coach Mark Weber hopes his first year at the head of the Bluejay program will continue the recent trend of success for the team, if not improve upon it.
“We have three guys back who went to the state tournament and two who stood on the (awards) podium,” Weber said. “I expect all three to be standing on the podium this year, even at the top, and we have others who could make their way to state as well. We are expecting a lot, but are not backing down. You won’t achieve success if you don’t think can and if you aren’t willing to bust your butt for it. We do, and we will.”
Leading the way for Perry is junior Zach Thompson, who was 29-4 last year while placing sixth for the second consecutive season. He will compete at 120 pounds, with state qualifier Kaleb Olejniczak (30-5), a sophomore, to go at 113.
“Those two are our leaders in the (wrestling) room,” Weber said. “They compete against each other in running, lifting, working on things — everything — and they have a great intensity in everything they do. They push each other every day no matter what they are doing and it sets a great example for the rest of the guys.”
Joining Perry this year is senior Cole Bennett (35-3), who has transferred in from ADM. He was fifth at 182 pounds for the Tigers last year and will compete again at the same weight. Bennett enters the season ranked second at 182 in Class 2A; Thompson is rated seventh at 120.
Freshman Tucker Strough will be at 106, junior Mana Martinez at 126, junior Zach Stewart at 132 and sophomore Justin Stammer at 138. Junior Miguel Gonzalez is at 145, freshman Eric Funez at 152 and freshman Cole Snyder at 160 while Adan Medina battles at 170, senior Kevin Lopez at 195, senior Alex Ortiz at 220 and senior Tyler Soll at 285.
“Mana and Justin are two guys who are scrappy and who work hard, and Zach Stewart has been working his butt off in the off-season and his confidence has skyrocketed,” Weber said. “I saw him (Stewart) at camps over the summer and he is a completely different wrestler right now. All these guys can stand on the podium as far as I am concerned. How high is up to them.”
Weber said he drew a distinction between a sense of entitlement and confidence, stating his contention that “a good attitude is fine, but I think confidence will dictate how far guys go.”
“The confidence and belief in yourself is what pushes you to work hard,” he elaborated. “Last year was last year and while you can have confidence on what you might have achieved, it means nothing on the mat. You have to earn it all over again, and if you don’t believe that you will go nowhere.
“Throughout my career I have seen guys who maybe went to state one year, thought that would mean they were going back, and then never make it again,” Weber said. “I have seen the opposite, too, where a guy comes from out of nowhere through hard work and confidence and makes state.”
Weber said he knew there would be losses coming, especially among the less-experienced Bluejays, but said the response to those losses — and how they happened — is what matters most to the coach.
“I am looking for guys were are fighters,” he explained. “I want us battling all the way, never giving an inch. Competition shows you what you need to do, and it is in the room when you work hard and fix things — that is where you get better, because it then carries over into your matches. I want guys who will not give away anything, who are going to go hard all the way, and I believe we have a room full of them.”
Perry begins competition at Gilbert Thursday before visiting the Harlan Invitational Saturday. They will join Ogden and Montezuma at Woodward-Granger Dec. 6, travel to the two-day Lewis Central Tournament in Council Bluffs Dec. 9-10 and then host Carroll and Fort Dodge St. Edmond Dec. 15. The pre-holiday portion of the schedule ends Dec. 17 with the annual visit to the Waukee Duals.
