Trojans wrestling takes on Cheyenne today at 6 p.m. at the high school gym.
Trojans Coach Craig Rieger says his team is ready and practiced hard over the winter break.
“We practiced every day and we took Christmas and New Year’s off,” Rieger said. “Cheyenne has lower and middleweights and I am not so sure they have much of a heavyweight division. I looked them up when they had lost to Mojave. I hope they do have heavyweights tonight.”
The coach said he is definitely not overlooking them for sure.
“Other than our heavyweights we have not wrestled great. Sam Brophy has. I am excited and we have to get everyone clicking going into February,” Rieger said.
Senior Sam Brophy, who wrestles at 145 pounds is undefeated, but that came with a price.
“He was pretty banged up going into the holidays,” the coach said. “He had a bad back that he tweaked and an ailing knee.”
Brophy used the time off to heal his wounds. He didn’t wrestle at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, and now the coach said he is ready to go.
“He is looking good. He practiced every day during the holiday,” Rieger said.
Brophy’s health will be critical as regionals approach. Also, a healthy Brophy along with Nick Nelson and Antonio Sandoval will strengthen the lower weights.
Coach Rieger found a way to get both Sandoval and Nelson wresting. Both wrestlers were fighting for the same position.
Now Nelson will be wrestling at 132 pounds and Sandoval will be going down to 126 pounds. This way the team benefits from both experienced wrestlers. Both wrestlers went to state last year.
The Trojans remain undefeated in league action and will wrestle at home next week against Faith Lutheran on Tuesday, which will be the Trojans’ last home appearance for the year.