Bob Jones Wrestling Team Look To Defend State Duals Championship
MADISON- The excitement level is pushing the limit among the Bob Jones wrestling program as the anticipation for a successful season is as high as any in recent history.
The Patriots return 12 starters, including nine state qualifiers from a season ago, from the squad that won the Class 7A Duals State Championship and finished fifth in the 2018 State Wrestling Championships. Head coach Matthew Sweatman is looking to the new season with much anticipation, but understands it’s a new season and you can’t rest on the laurels of a year ago.
“Our guys have accepted the challenge to leave last year’s success behind and to concentrate on a new season,” said Sweatman. “This is a different year and a different team.”
Actually, this year’s roundup of wrestlers is not much different from the Patriots of a season ago as only Seth Dupree and Harold Gilmore, both state runners-up, graduated off the roster that returns this season.
The 2018-2019 roster includes George Francovitch,(Sr.) a state runner-up in 182-pound class, his brother, Cal (Sr., 160-170), Zaderian Toney (Sr., 133-120) a third place state finalist last season along with being named an All-American this summer at the Wrestling Nationals, Jimmy Wilson, (Sr., 120-126) a third place finisher last year and a two-time state qualifier, Jordan Whalen (Sr., 145-152), a three-time qualifier for the state meet, Zaevian Toney (Sr., 133-120) a two-time state qualifier, along with Abe Alrefai, (Sr., 138-145) who was a 2017 state meet qualifier, but was injured last season, Gabe Pittman (Sr., 160-170), and Noah Scoggins (Sr., 152-160). Additional returnees are Nick Mothersele (Sr., 195-220) and Jordan Aycock (Sr., 220).
Sweatman is also excited about the arrival of a new member to the program. Raequan McCray arrived to Bob Jones from West Virginia where he was a state meet wrestler a season ago. The senior will wrestle in the 145-pound division.
“We’ve focused on working our tails off this off-season to have another successful year to send our 17 seniors out on top,” said Whalen, a senior wrestling in the 145-152-pound division.
A trio of football players will make their way to the mat as soon as the gridiron season is complete. Sweatman indicated Mikey Lucente (Jr.), Josh Guyton (Jr.) and Drew Lawson (So.) will each fight it out for the spot at wrestling in the heavyweight division (285) this fall.
“We will approach this season with the same intensity and leave a mark that the class of 2019 will be proud of,” added Sweatman.
The 2018-2019 season gets underway Nov. 15 and runs through the State Meet set for Feb. 15-16.
