[heading size=”16″ margin=”10″]Bruins have 3 wrestlers in top state rankings[/heading]Following a loss to Moberly, the RBHS wrestling team will travel to Jefferson City to participate in the district tournament. Although the team has three wrestlers in the top state rankings in their weight classes, Jefferson City High School is still the favorite to win the tournament with five wrestlers ranked. Sophomore Brock Davis, junior Josiah Kline and senior Graham Ratermann, ranked 4th, 2nd and 2nd in the state in their weight classes of 106, 120 and 170, respectively, look to take home the state trophy in each of their weight classes.
“The practices are going to start getting more intense to get us ready for better competition,” Davis said. “Personally, I am going to start practicing with Josiah because he really forces me to look for opportunities that the better wrestlers in the state do in competition.”
Davis said the team as a whole is better than it was at the beginning of the season, with many guys that were losing matches now winning more. Junior Jujuan Chambers, although not a favorite to win the district competition, said that he feels that many of the wrestlers on the team have a good chance to advance to the state tournament.
“We did great [last week],” Chambers said. “We got a lot of matches that we needed for getting ready for districts. I feel good about the way we are wrestling as of right now, and I plan on doing well at districts.”
Chambers said the team has been working hard all week in practice, working on techniques and strategies that will put them steps ahead of their competition. Kline, a returning state champion, said that although he has been working on his technique and working his weight down, the results of the tournament will be uncertain until the day comes.
“Of course I want to win all my matches and take first place,” Kline said, “but I’m not sure how it will work out. I just want to compete, and hopefully be at my full potential, and do it with my team.”
Kline said that he is feeling a lot better since he was hurt, and believes he has a good shot at repeating as state champ. However, the Bruins will be facing tough competition from JCHS and Waynesville, along with some from Lee’s Summit West, Lebanon and more. Despite these challenges, Davis said that he does not expect to miss out on going to the state competition.
“I’m the number one seed at my weight, and so are Graham and Josiah, so I don’t think any of us expect anything less than district championships,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to winning a state title for Rock Bridge with Graham and Josiah. They’re my teammates and best friends, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better wrestle with.”
By Derek Wang
“The practices are going to start getting more intense to get us ready for better competition,” Davis said. “Personally, I am going to start practicing with Josiah because he really forces me to look for opportunities that the better wrestlers in the state do in competition.”
Davis said the team as a whole is better than it was at the beginning of the season, with many guys that were losing matches now winning more. Junior Jujuan Chambers, although not a favorite to win the district competition, said that he feels that many of the wrestlers on the team have a good chance to advance to the state tournament.
“We did great [last week],” Chambers said. “We got a lot of matches that we needed for getting ready for districts. I feel good about the way we are wrestling as of right now, and I plan on doing well at districts.”
Chambers said the team has been working hard all week in practice, working on techniques and strategies that will put them steps ahead of their competition. Kline, a returning state champion, said that although he has been working on his technique and working his weight down, the results of the tournament will be uncertain until the day comes.
“Of course I want to win all my matches and take first place,” Kline said, “but I’m not sure how it will work out. I just want to compete, and hopefully be at my full potential, and do it with my team.”
Kline said that he is feeling a lot better since he was hurt, and believes he has a good shot at repeating as state champ. However, the Bruins will be facing tough competition from JCHS and Waynesville, along with some from Lee’s Summit West, Lebanon and more. Despite these challenges, Davis said that he does not expect to miss out on going to the state competition.
“I’m the number one seed at my weight, and so are Graham and Josiah, so I don’t think any of us expect anything less than district championships,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to winning a state title for Rock Bridge with Graham and Josiah. They’re my teammates and best friends, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better wrestle with.”
By Derek Wang
