SEC look ahead: Wrestling

Can anyone catch Fort Madison? That’s the burning question as the Southeast Conference heads toward the 2021-22 wrestling season. The Bloodhounds took control of the league last year, and it will be tough for anyone to take it from them.

The Bloodhounds finished 4-0 in the conference last season, winning the league by two in the loss column. This year, the Hounds seem to be the favorite to repeat.

Fort Madison’s undefeated run came with double-digit victories over the Union area teams. The Bloodhounds took down Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant by the same score, 48-30. They upended Washington 62-9.

Fairfield finished 3-2 in the league, as did Keokuk. The Chiefs, however, held the tiebreaker, beating the Trojans 45-33 during the season. Fairfield earned victories over Mt. Pleasant and Washington, as well as Burlington, which the Trojans nipped 34-33.

Mt. Pleasant finished fifth in the conference, at 2-3. The Panthers defeated Burlington and Washington, and would have likely jumped Burlington for fourth if the Grayhounds didn’t have their dual with Fort Madison canceled, leaving the Grayhounds at 2-2.

Washington went winless in conference competition. The Demons did get the final word over fellow Union area teams Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant, however, as graduated senior Ayden Frazer made the state meet, the only area big school grappler to do so.

There will be four returning state qualifiers eligible to come back for SEC squads. That includes reigning conference wrestler of the year Tate O-Shea, who enters his junior year after finishing 1-2 in the Class 2A 126-pound bracket.

Other 2021 state qualifiers expected to be back include Fort Madison senior Gavin Wiseman, who went 0-2 in the Class 3A 138-pound bracket, and a pair of Grayhounds Burlington senior Julius Harris was 1-2 at 3A-285, and sophomore Nolan Simpson went 0-2 at 3A-182.

Of the 28 All-Conference wrestlers last year, just 10 of them were seniors. The Bloodhounds can return three first-teamers to lead the way.

Mt. Pleasant’s Chayse Irving (170) enters his senior year after a first-team nod last year, as does Fairfield senior Cesar Smithburg (220).

The Panthers have the most second team names returning, at four; junior 113-pounder Ella McNamee, senior 120-pounder Gannon McNamee, senior 126-pounder Carson Coleman and junior 132-pounder Bowen Davis. Neither Fairfield or Washington return anybody from the second team.