Tiger wrestlers open season Thursday to battle at Skyview

The Mountain Home Tigers open their wrestling season this week, traveling to Skyview Thursday night for a conference dual with the Hawks, and then on to the Buck's Bags Tournament at Capital on Friday and Saturday.

Mountain Home Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson is pleased with this year's turnout for wrestling.

"We had a good turnout. We're right at about 30 to 35 kids. We have some kids that are missing right now due to some grade problems, and also illness and things like that, but we're right there at about 35."

Of those 35, Coach Knudson aid he has about 15 wrestlers returning from last year.

"They're all pretty solid this year. They were pretty young last year, but right behind them is a very young team, so we're going to have to work at getting them up there at the varsity level, and that's the whole plan anyway, to get them strong in their moves, get them aggressive and have them ready for district so that they can make it out of district and on to state."

Coach Knudson says this year's squad is young and heavy on freshmen.

"As a matter of fact, that's our largest group up in the room right now. We have very few seniors, a few more juniors -- but not a ton -- and a lot more sophomores and freshmen. I think we can be competitive with anyone in our district, so that's really good."

The Tiger matmen open Thursday night with a conference match at Skyview.

As far as the conference race goes, Knudson figures Columbia will probably once again be the team to beat.

"I think so. They were pretty stacked last year and they had a lot returning for this season, so I would say that it's Columbia, and then it's kind of up in the air from there. I think everybody has an opportunity from that point, but they're definitely probably going to be the powerhouse."

Coach Knudson is big on his 15 wrestlers. Some he expects to continue where they left off last year.

"Some key guys that spent a lot of time on the varsity level last year are guys like Austin Clark and Ryan Goldsby. Devonte McClain is another one. Austin Lucas, Ty McRae at heavyweight, he was really coming on last year, and Cory Pinque and Tyler Rios, two outstanding wrestlers, and also up in the heavier weights again, Jon Ryan. That's just a few of those guys, but they all saw varsity matches last year and won a lot, but also lost a few, so I'm excited about seeing how they can do this year."