Posted in the Parsons Sun
By Jason Peake
The Labette Community College wrestling team is set to begin 2013 with several important home duals next week.
The Cardinals host Pratt on Monday at 7 p.m. before hosting the Labette Invitational with Colby, Ellsworth (IA) and Northwest Wyoming on Wednesday.
The defending national champion Cardinals are currently ranked second in the latest NJCAA national wrestling poll behind North Idaho.
With his team set to begin the second half of the season, LCC Coach Joe Renfro sat down with the Sun to chat about his team.
The conversation is below.
Jason Peake: How do you feel your team performed in the first half of the season?
Joe Renfro: “We did well. We’re a young team, and they’re still learning. A lot of these kids have to learn a lot about life. They have to learn how to live outside of their parent’s homes for the first time and they have to re-learn study habits.
“And they have to learn more about wrestling. That’s usually what takes up a lot of time in the first semester. But I think we did real well.”
Peake: Which wrestlers have impressed you the most thus far?
Renfro: “You know, the whole team has impressed me. They’ve really bonded together. That happens with good teams. We’re now practicing up to four times a day. They’re doing everything together, and they’re becoming a family that relies on each other and a group that gets the job done together.”
Peake: Your team had some injury issues before the break. What’s the update, is everyone back?
Renfro: “We’ve had some injuries here and there. Everybody is back now. We had some knees scoped, and a hamstring injury. But I think everybody’s good to go now.”
Peake: How much time do the guys get off for the holidays?
Renfro: “We give them nine days off. The kids came back on Dec. 28, and it seems like everybody is eager to get back at it. They don’t go back to classes until the 14th, so we’ve been practicing or working out three or four times a day now. But you can only work out so much. We don’t want them to be exhausted, but we need to keep them active.”
Peake: What does your team need to do from now until late February in order to accomplish the goal of a repeat at the national tournament?
Renfro: “We have to keep growing and keep building. Our lineup is pretty much set, but there are some small things we’re tweaking and can still work on. We try to make some minor adjustments with their wrestling, like hand or head positions, that can make a difference. We’re going to fine-tune some little things and try to get rid of some bad habits. But getting through these next several practices and just keeping the guys focused is the biggest test right now.
And we need them focused on the big picture.”
Peake: Your team hosts Pratt on Monday and then three schools on Wednesday. How big are these duals this week?
Renfro: “Pratt will be a good warm-up match. And then we’ll have Northwest Wyoming, who is tough as nails, and Colby, who is tough as nails. And Ellsworth, Iowa is also pretty tough. We’re going to be tested. I’m glad we’ll be at home. These duals will help us get ready for national duals the next weekend. It’s a big week coming up. But this week won’t make us or break us. It will only help us. And then we’ll move on from there. And I expect us to do some big things.”
Ranked wrestlers
Labette has several wrestlers ranked nationally.
Josh Walker is ranked second at 125 pounds, while Eric Hughes is ranked third at 133.
Tyler Davis is fifth at 141, and Spencer Rutherford is ranked fifth at 149.
Jeromy Davenport is the second ranked wrestler at 157, while Devin Aguirre is second at 165.
Ethan Orr is listed at second at 174 and Trey Page is the number-one ranked wrestler at 285.
NJCAA National Wrestling poll
1. North Idaho
2. Labette Community College
3. Clackamas CC
4. Niagara County CC
5. Iowa Western
6. Colby
7. Northwest College
8. Ridgewater College
9. Nassau CC
10. Ellsworth
11. Iowa Central
12. Pratt CC
13. Gloucester County
14. Neosho County
15. Western Wyoming
