(COVINGTON, La.) The St. Paul’s wrestling team seems to have a promising year ahead of them with two returning state champions (Cole Houser and Jared Theiler), a strong senior class and strong underclassmen.

“We have been working hard since (practices) started,” freshman wrestler Carter Duet said. “We’re putting in the work and seeing the results.”

The St. Paul’s wrestling team has yet to win a Division 1 state title, being edged out by the more complete teams like Holy Cross and Brother Martin. This year, however, almost every one of the 14 weight classes is occupied by talented individuals, giving the team arguably their most complete lineup in a few years.

“We have strong competitors at most weights, with talented freshman at lower weights and more experienced upper weights to help give us a more well-rounded team,” Wrestling Head Coach Craig Ketelson said.

This season will consist of many more dual meets (two schools pitted directly against one another), and will also add a dual state tournament meet. This is beneficial for this year’s SPS wrestling team, since they now will be able to compete strongly in most of the weight classes.  

The first tournament is Nov. 4; however, the varsity team will be split into two groups: one going to Rummel, and another going to Lakeshore High. According to Ketelsen, this will be done to give the deep varsity team more wresting time. Due to the depth of this year’s team, Ketelsen feels it would be a waste to send only the varsity starters to a tournament. This year, the starters will go to the more competitive tournaments, while the second string varsity wrestlers will go to smaller tournaments. 

“I’m excited for our first tournament,” sophomore wrestler Scott Manifold said. “It’s been almost a year since our last tournament, and I’m excited to get back in the swing of things.”

The complete season schedule will be posted on The Paper Wolf once more details are available, and the Wolves expect to have increased enthusiasm and fan turnouts at the home tournaments this year, held in both the new and old gyms.

Updated Oct. 31, 2017.