Redskin Wrestling Opens with Unprecedented Interest

Liberal High School wrestling is on the uptick headed into the 2022-23 season.  Mike Fowler enters his second year as head coach coming off an opening season in which three Redskin boys and two girls finished in the top five at state.  The boys open the season ranked #10 in class 6A.  The numbers in the wrestling room on the west part of the LHS campus have been almost literally through the roof.  The wrestling program began with about 100 kids and now has about 90 kids going into opening week.  And with hard work and fundraising this summer, new back packs and uniforms will adorn the grapplers this winter.

Fowler has about 60 boys making for lots of competition for varsity spots.  He has three ranked wrestlers on the boys side as Trystian Juarez opens the season ranked #1 at 190, Tommy McClure is #2 at 144, and Mathew Trejo is #5 at 192.  Fowler expects Julian Orrantia at 106 pounds to have a big season.  Javon Allen at 175 and Edgar Landa at 126 both made state last year.  Mana Chanthasone is ranked #2 at 100 pounds for the girls.  The girls team has about 30 out and is a young team.  Fowler says Isabella Gutierrez and Georgina Dominguez look strong on the mat going into the season.

Liberal will have six home events this season after having just two last season.  They open at home Tuesday at 5pm with a boys and girls dual against Hugoton in the Big House.  The girls wrestle at Pratt on Friday night.  The boys go to Pratt on Saturday.  Both JV boys and girls go to Goodland on Saturday.

Mike Fowler is a guest on Sportsguys Tuesday morning between 7:35 and 9 on 1270 and 92.3