WylieNews11_28

By Bodie Coker

FLOWER MOUND With just one week of workouts on the mat, the Pirate wrestling team traveled to Flower Mound last Tuesday to compete in a three-team dual to open the 2001-2002 season.

A total of 52 wrestlers are competing for positions on this yearšs team under second-year coach Danny Blankenship. Twelve of those wrestlers traveled to the meet that included teams from Flower Mound and Woodrow Wilson.

Three wrestlers captured wins in their weight divisions including Blake Giunta, Caleb Fisher and Cory Shields.

Giunta won both matches in the 135-weight classification, as did Shields in the 189-weight class.

Fisher, who won the state JV 171 class title last year, is wrestling in the 180-weight class. He split his matches, winning the first and dropping the second on a disqualification.

"There were a lot of holes in all of the teams so some of our guys weren't able to wrestle in two matches," said Blankenship. "I really considered it a warm up match for us and wešll have a full squad this week."

This week the team traveled to Carter Riverside High School in Fort Worth on Tuesday, then travels to Rockwall on Saturday to compete in their first tournament of the season.

"I'm excited about the season," Blankenship said. "Last year I was a new coach. This year we know what to expect. Our talent level has gone up. We're faster, quicker and stronger."

Team members include:

Seniors Sean Harris, 225; Anthony Prater, 275; and Robby Welch, 225;

Juniors Randy Cox, 189; Brian Dehtloff, 152; Steven Dehtloff, 152; Trey Decker, ?; Caleb Fisher, 180; Blake Giunta, 135; Justin Lowry, 152; Daniel Morgensen, 125; Ryan Olson, 152; Joe Poovey, ?; Mark Swallow, 152; and Tyler Whitecotter; 152.

Sophomores Gilbert Armente, 225; Michael Cox, 215; Rob Dial, 152; Lee Jones, 112; Jack London, 145; Collin Millis, 119; Josh Peterson, 225; Josh Smith, 225; Paul Smith, 152; and Micheal White, 160;

Freshmen - Nathan Betts, 171; Donald Buss, 145; Ryan Carey, 160; Travis Daily, 119; Gary Gray, 180; Dan Hickman, 189; Jesse Keller, 180; Keith Laughry, ?; Edher Maltos, 135; Dakota Miller, 130; D. Murphy, ?; Jeremy Magnesson, 145; Ricky McDoullet, 145; Nick Seaton, ?; Cory Shields, 189;
and Woody Simmons, 160.

Also, four girls are competing this year. They are juniors Lesley Blair and Kelly Kiser and sophomores Holly Clark and Amber Marshall.

"We are still a fledgling program so we donšt have a girls coach but Išve tried to arrange matches with other schools with girls programs," Blankenship said.

The girls practice against each other. "I'm proud of the way they're working," Blankenship said.

Wylie wrestlers compete in District 21 which includes Allen Henderson, Longview Pine Tree, Quinlan Ford and Rockwall. The Rockwall team won the state championship last year.