Humboldt.......................28

HUMBOLDT EAST SAC COUNTY

HUMBOLDT, Continued from Page 28 RAIDERS, Continued from Page 49

Photos by Phil Monson/Humboldt Independent HUMBOLDT GIRLS WRESTLING returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Claire Weydert, Baylie Beers, Ashlyn Sutterfield and Mia Harris. Back: Mackenzie McMahon, Lexi Roberts, Brooklyn Robinson, Sophia Harris and Rylee Coyle.

six rebounds a night.

“We hope to be very competitive in the NCC,” Humboldt head coach Rodd Mooney said. “We are a pretty young team, so we will need to learn quickly.

“We will also have to play tough defense and rebound as a team.”

They are joined by senior Kayla Gieber and sophomores Paige Nelson and Kaitlyn Nelson. Gieber averaged almost four points and five rebounds, with the other two gaining valuable varsity experience.

“We will need to incorporate our newcomers with our returning players to help maximize our ability and form our identity,” Mooney said. “Shooting should be a strength, but we don’t have a lot of size.”

—By Dana Becker

Photo by Phil Monson/Humboldt Independent HUMBOLDT BOYS BASKETBALL returning letterwinners are (left to right): Will Orness and Joshua Thurm.

WILDCAT WRESTLING

The cupboard is far from bare for Chad Beaman and the Humboldt wrestling program this winter.

A handful of returning state qualifiers, a couple other district qualifiers and a talented group of newcomers are all expected to take to the mats for the Wildcats.

Jayden Gargano, Jase Goodell and Cyler Cirks all have state experience under their belts, while Ty Gargano, Owen Mayall and Dusty Pate made it to districts.

Tyce Clarken is a ranked sophomore who went 19-4 a year ago, while Mayall, Gaige Allen, Ty Gargano, Goodell, Cirks and Pate all won at least 20 matches. Gargano and Cirks went had 30 wins.

Along with Jayden and Ty Gargano, Kyle Caquelin, Goodell, Pate, Biruk Zemene and Christian Lee are key senior leaders for Humboldt.

Beaman, now in his 20th season as head coach for the Wildcats, has won 281 duals. Overall, he owns 437 career dual wins in 29 seasons on the mat.

—By Dana Becker

WILDCATS AT A GLANCE

HUMBOLDT BOYS

Returning letterwinners (3): Kaleb McCullough, 6-2, sr., C; Will Orness, 6-1, sr., G; Joshua Thurm, 6-1, sr., G.

Last season: 21-4 overall, 12-2 in North Central Conference (cochampions). Class 3A state tournament qualifiers.

Coach: Jason Thurm begins his fourth season, having won 49 games in three years with the Wildcats.

HUMBOLDT GIRLS

Returning letterwinners (5): Morgan Mann, soph., G; Kayla Gieber, sr., F; Reagan Lee, jr., F; Paige Nelson, soph., G; Kaitlyn Nelson, soph., G.

Last season: 12-10 overall, 9-5 in North Central Conference (fourth).

Coach: Rodd Mooney returns for his 21st season with the Wildcats, where he has won 189 games. Overall, Mooney has won 219 games in 23 seasons.

HUMBOLDT WRESTLING

Returning letterwinners (13): Tyce Clarken, soph., 126; Landon Halverson, soph., 160; Owen Mayall, soph., 132; Gaige Allen, jr., 182; Zayn Feaster, jr., 152; Daylin McDaniel, jr., 152; Cael Newell, jr., 220; Aden Prenger, jr., 106; Kyle Caquelin, sr., 220; Jayden Gargano, sr., 132; Ty Gargano, sr., 152; Jase Goodell, sr., 152; Christian Lee, sr., 195.

Top prospects: Cyler Cirks, soph., 120; Dusty Pate, sr., 138; Biruk Zemene, sr., 113; Brady Beers, soph., 138; Trey Al-Hameed, soph., 145.

Last season: 17-4 in duals.

Coach: Chad Beaman returns for his 20th season with Humboldt, where he has collected 281 dual wins. Overall, Beaman is 4327-201-3 in 29 years as a head coach. back, Phillips is ready to see what his team can do.

East Sac County went 6-16 a year ago and will feature senior Mary Bontrager along with Kendall Quirk, Makenna Steiger and Jen Aschinger.

“I’m expecting big things out of the girls we have coming back,” Phillips said. “Mary is a four-year starter and Jen has turned into a very solid point guard for us.”

Bontrager averaged almost 12 points per game last year with four rebounds, while Steiger added six points.

“I’m an old-school coach,” Phillips said. “I love the game of basketball and we work hard on fundamentals and defense. It might not be what everyone wants, but that is what we bring to the court.”

—By Dana Becker RAIDER WRESTLING

Charlie Veit anchors the East Sac County wrestling program after qualifying for state and placing sixth last year.

Bradyn Burns is another district qualifier back for the Raiders, along with letterwinners Garret Ortner, Landon Graff, Landon Grindle, Tate Lahr, Chandler Lahr and Kaydon Erpelding.

East Sac County is coached by Chaps Wilcke and Sam Ellis.

Wilcke and Ellis will also be coaching the girls wrestling program, which features senior Olivia Villegas. She has competed at the IWCOA state championships each of the past three seasons and been with the boys program throughout her prep career.

—By Dana Becker

RAIDERS AT A GLANCE

EAST SAC COUNTY BOYS

Returning letterwinners (9): Caleb Eichorn, 6-1, jr.; Weston Drost, 6-0, jr.; Aden Vondrak, 6-1, sr.; Tony Clair, 6-1, jr.; Luke Wernimont, 6-1, jr.; Carter Hogrefe, 6-3, sr.; Karter Ludwig, 5-8, jr.; Brody Boeckman, 5-11, jr.; Luke Wright, 6-4, jr.

Last season: 10-12 overall, 7-4 in Twin Lakes Conference (fourth).

Coach: Todd Bontrager is in his 31st season as head coach.

EAST SAC COUNTY GIRLS

Returning letterwinners (4): Mary Bontrager, 5-7, sr., G; Kendall Quirk, 5-8, soph., F; Jen Aschinger, 5-4, jr., G; Makenna Steiger, 5-8, soph., G.

Last year: 6-16 overall, 2-9 in Twin Lakes Conference.

Coach: Jason Phillips returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Raiders.

EAST SAC COUNTY WRESTLING

Returning letterwinners (8): Bradyn Burns, 113; Garret Ortner, 120; Landon Graff, 126; Charlie Veit, 132; Landon Grindle, 138; Tate Lahr, 145; Chandler Lahr, 152; Kaydon Erpelding, 182.

Last year: 2-25 in duals.

Coaches: Chaps Wilcke and Sam Ellis are co-head coaches for the Raiders.