The West Fork boys wrestling team continued to build the program increasing their roster size from eight wrestlers out last season to 14 wrestlers out this winter. The Warhawks were winless in duals last season and won four duals this season, with two wins against North Union and a win apiece against Newman Catholic and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.
The Warhawks over the course of the season roster wide overcame the ups and downs of injury and illness. Head Coach Keaton Wilson highlights a few Warhawks that didn’t allow adversity to slow them down.
“Brooks Jones was out for a while and he had some other personal health issues. He just showed up every day and still wanted to put in the effort every day, which I can’t appreciate more,” says Wilson. “Jensen Robbins, he got hurt a few times throughout the year, just grinded through and made the season he had. Basically more than flip-flopped his freshman to sophomore year. He went 13 and like 30 his freshman year.”
Robbins at 215 pounds finished his year a win away from state qualification, as he placed third at the Class 1A district tournament. Jones at 138 pounds after missing a month of action due to injury, returned to win 14 of his remaining 23 matches. The Warhawks had nine wrestlers gain valuable varsity mat time competing in their first season on the team. Wilson shares where the team can improve this offseason.
“I think we did a good job on our feet of attacking, taking good shots, setting up the shots and getting takedowns. We did all right on turning. We just gotta continuously, continue to improve on bottom. That’s our weak point, mentally too. We’re not as mentally strong as I’d like the team to be. We just gotta continue to work on that. That stuff takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
The Warhawks after graduating Aaron Ihrke are projected to return 13 wrestlers next season.
