Talented Trojans open season Saturday

While the Whitehall High School wrestling team may have been unable to compete in December, they used the change in the schedule to their benefit.

The Trojans started practicing December 7 and according to Assistant Coach Steve Sacry, they have used the longer preseason to really lock in on team goals, strategies, and techniques.

Whitehall will open the season on the road on January 2 at Florence.

Sacry said they will not be wrestling any tournaments until Divisionals, but in wrestling, it's always been one match at a time, so he is sure they will be ready for the season.

"We will be able to do some different traveling this year and will start our season on the road at Florence. We are looking forward to taking advantage of the new opportunities this year. MHSA is still working out some of the details of the season. We will let them do that and we will focus on wrestling," he said.

After reaching their goal of a Divisional Title last season, the squad's first since 1995, Sacry said this year the division is twice as large including all the western schools, but this year's team has just as ambitious goals and are working hard to reach them.

"We realize our success last year put a target on our backs, but we are ready," he said.

The team will return a wealth of leadership including senior captains Dallen Hoover, Dawson Powers, Trentin Walker, and Jamus Dubois.

"They all have successful past experience and are working hard to lead this team. We look forward to their development and successes this year," Sacry said.

Whitehall will also return a solid group of sophomores led by state placer Miles Hoerauf. The talented 10th-grade class includes Karson Klapan, Gavin Watson, Michael Reiff, Dane Hoover, Kyle Denny, Leo Scafani, and Nick Denny.

New to this year's squad are juniors Dallon Lanes and Justin Kuehl, as well as freshman Isaac Skogen and Wesley Biggers.

Whitehall will also field a girls' team this year with Kenzy Best and Alley Antonsen wrestling for the Lady Trojans.

"We look forward to this new addition to the Whitehall tradition," Sacry said.

The head coach of the team is Mark Nelson.