Colfax grapplers see bigger numbers for the upcoming season
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COLFAX 2019 WRESTLERS — The Bloomer/Colfax Raptors will have more wrestlers this year as Colfax will have seven out of the 18 that will be compeating. Pictured from L-R: Hope LaHaie, Julio Hernandez, Luke Blanchard, Mitch Harmon, Sawyer Best, and Colin Bohl. Not pictured Brison Tuschl. —photo by Amber Hayden
By Amber Hayden
COLFAX — The Colfax grapplers find themselves part of an 18-wrestler squad for the upcoming 2019-20 season as they will once again co-op with Bloomer to form the Raptors’ Wrestling team.
“Last year our focus was on getting experience for our young wrestlers,” said assistant coach Adam Davison. “We didn’t win a conference dual last year, which was disappointing but we expected it to be a season that was more about growth and mat experience than overall team success.”
Vikings’ seniors Sawyer Best, 132-pound weight class, and Mitch Harmon, 138-pound weight class, return after qualifying for state last season. Best failed to win his first match at state in the preliminaries, and Harmon won his first match but lost the next two.
“It was Mitch’s second trip to state and he didn’t miss the podium by much,” Davison explained. “Sawyer made his first trip to state and has continued to put in good work in the offseason, he even wrestled in Iowa in a preseason national tournament.”
Best finished the 2018-19 season with a record of 29-5 and Harmon was 33-4.
Also returning for Colfax is sophomore Luke Blanchard who finished 21-5 last season in the 106-pound weight class and finished first at the Baldwin-Woodville Division 2 Regional meet, but did not qualify for state after finishing fifth in the Neillsville Sectional.
“Luke worked hard in the offseason and he hopes to go even further this year,” coach Davison explained.
The Bloomer/Colfax team has gone up in numbers this season with 18 wrestlers and should have each weight class covered, according to Davison, with a solid core of experienced wrestlers that should make the team more competitive in duals throughout the season.
“Some of our wrestlers have grown a lot this year and moving up weight classes can be very challenging,” commented Davison.
The goal for the season is to avoid a last-place finish in the Heart O’ North Conference, but there will also be a focus on individual success. As individuals Mitch Harmon and Sawyer Best chase their 100th career wins, and there is a State goal for four of the Bloomer/Colfax wrestlers.
Also joining the Raptors will be Vikings’ Julio Hernandez, Colin Bohl, Brison Tuschl and Hope Lahaie.
Davison believes Northwestern will be the team to beat in the conference as many of other teams in the conference have graduated a lot of their experienced wrestlers.
Colfax will begin their season on Saturday, December 7, on the road in Glenwood City for the John Timm Memorial Duals beginning at 10 a.m. Bloomer-Colfax will open HON play with a dual match at Cumberland on Thursday, December 12.
2019-20 Roster
Seniors: Sawyer Best and Mitch Harmon
Junior: Julio Hernandez
Sophomores: Luke Blanchard, Colin Bohl, and Hope LaHaie
Freshman: Brison Tuschl