Cyclones returning with more experience

Erick Starkey
Posted 2/16/18

With all but one wrestler returning from last year’s squad, along with the addition of a couple new competitors, the Southeast Cyclones are poised to improve on last year’s mark at the regional tournament.

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Cyclones returning with more experience

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YODER – With all but one wrestler returning from last year’s squad, along with the addition of a couple new competitors, the Southeast Cyclones are poised to improve on last year’s mark at the regional tournament.

A year ago, Southeast took the fourth spot at the 2A East Regional Tournament, racking up 78 points. The Cyclones found themselves outside of the top-three behind Moorcroft (253), Glenrock (220.5) and Burns/Pine Bluffs (135). With more wrestlers and more experience for those wrestlers, Southeast could take a crack at the top-three. Southeast has adopted a theme of improving on last year’s marks at each tournament throughout the year.

“For the first time since I have been coaching, we had three tournament runner-up finishes,” coach Matt Bullington said. “We had more individual champions than we’ve had since I’ve been coaching. Overall, we saw tons of progress from all our wrestlers from last year to this year.”

Hunter Woodruff is one of the top names to watch this weekend, as he is sitting second in the heavyweight rankings by WyoWrestling. He took third at the regional tournament last year, which was the second-best finish for Southeast, behind Chase Lovercheck’s first-place finish. Lovercheck currently sits fourth at 152 points in the WyoWrestling rankings.

Lovercheck and Woodruff are Southeast’s two returning state placers. The two seniors both took fourth as juniors a season ago. Elijah Boyd is the other state placer from last year, but he graduated this past spring.

Six additional wrestlers who placed in the top-eight at the regional tournament last winter return again this year. At 106 pounds, Southeast has Greg Logsdon (fourth) and Kaden Brothwell (sixth), who are both ranked. Tate Carson (sixth at 182) and Brian Baker (fifth at 195) round out the returning Cyclones that are currently ranked. Conner Smith is the other returner who placed last year.

Freshman 113-pounder Brock Blevins has splashed onto the scene this year, sitting fifth in the WyoPreps rankings. Although he is untested in the postseason, Blevins proved during the regular season that he can compete at the high school level. Wyatt Lackman is another new-comer that has held his own at 120 pounds this winter.

“We truly have quite a few wrestlers that if they are on their game, can compete for top regional and state placings,” Bullington said. “I’m just looking forward to having these kids see the benefits of their hard work over the course of the last year.”

With a bulk of last year’s team returning this year, including five seniors who will be looking to end their final season on a high note, the Cyclones are in good position to excel at this weekend’s regional tournament.

“Heading into the postseason, we are really focusing on individual placing,” Bullington said. “If we can get everyone to place as high as they possibly can, it will only do good things for the team.

“Really, it’s a numbers game,” he added. “In terms of a team title, we probably don’t have the horsepower to compete for titles, but what we can affect is placing as high as we possibly can.”