By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Numbers may be down for the Dowagiac wrestling program, but veteran Chieftain coach John Green is cautiously optimistic about his team's chances heading into the Wolverine Conference.
The Chieftains were 29-18 last season, its last in the Big 16 Conference. Dowagiac reached the Division 3 district finals where Buchanan, whom the Chieftains will face on Wednesday, Dec. 6, eliminated them.
Returning for Dowagiac are Nathan Cottrell at 112-pounds, Justin Ritcher at 130-pounds, Richie Hutchinson at 135-pounds, Nathan Long at 145-pounds, Terry Prowoznik at 152-pounds, Deshaun Baylock at 160-pounds, Nate Behnke at 189-pounds and Drew Staley at 215-pounds.
The Chieftains were expecting to have returning lettermen at 13 out of the 14 weight classes and only one freshman in the line-up. However, several wrestlers have not come out this season and senior Mike Kasper was lost before the year even began due to a knee injury sustained during football season.
"I am still optimistic about the season," Green said. "We are being picked to finish fourth in the conference, but I think we can finish better than that."
Dowagiac will get a taste of just how tough the Wolverine Conference is in the league opener. The Chieftains will travel to Allegan to take on the No. 1 ranked team in Division 2, as well as South Haven, which is ranked No. 5 in Division 3.
Despite the losses, Green still has a good group of grapplers to build around.
Cottrell (40-16), Baylock (36-19) and Staley (31-16) were all regional qualifiers.
Prowoznik was 35-19 last season, while Hutchinson and Behnke were both having good seasons before being sidelined for the year due to injuries.
Long was 26-23 as a sophomore.
"We have a good nucleus and the chemistry on this team is good," Green said. "The weight classes are spread out, so we don't have a bunch of guys all stacked up at one weight."
With some untested wrestlers in the line up, Green is interested in seeing how his team will compete on Saturday at the Southwest Wrestling Classic at Allegan High School.
The Chieftains will be joined by the host school, as well as Allendale, Byron Center, Whitehall, Hastings, Holland, Muskegon Reeths Puffer, Saline, Grand Rapids Northview, Reed City, Jenison, Kalamazoo Central, Swartz Creek and Portage Northern.
"All of them are wrestling schools with solid programs," Green said of Saturday's tournament."
Wrestling is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults and students. A $15 family pass is also available. Concessions will be available.
Other faces to watch this season include Andrew Roden (freshmen), D.J. Tartt (sophomore), Zach Roden (junior), Andrew Hurrle (sophomore) and Robert Wescott (junior).
Green said that Allegan is the team to beat in the conference as the Tigers return 12 seniors, including a pair of state champions.
South Haven should also challenge for the league title.
Dowagiac also wants to challenge for the district title again.
"We want to be able to compete with Buchanan for the district championship and avenge last year's loss," Green said.