• Scott Wilson
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  • Nov 18, 2023
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It has almost become commonplace for Brian Parker, the wrestling coach at Stone Memorial High School, to have to revamp his roster every season. Despite the annual success his program has had, players graduate, and some even decide they want to do something else.

“It is pretty much a rebuilding year every season,” Parker said.

Stone Memorial is coming off a good campaign, where the black and gold qualified six wrestlers for the state 2023 championship. He has a large group of wrestler coming back, but he could use some bigger numbers in the younger ranks.

“Probably the first thing I was thinking about coming into this season was recruiting and getting more kids,” Parker said. “We’ve got to recruit more. We’re pretty young, but we do have some experienced kids, a good core to build around.”

And Parker has been putting his wrestlers through their paces in the preseason. Stone Memorial will scrimmage at Bearden High School on Nov. 18 and then open the year at Hixson on Nov. 21.

“The thing we need to do more work on are our basic moves,” Parker said. “I have learned, especially with the younger kids, I can’t go on to the ‘fantastic’ moves if I don’t make sure they’re good with the basics. 

“Everybody should be able to do a switch fast. Everybody should be able to do a standup fast. They should be able to do certain takedowns. I found many of them were hitting moves OK, but I need them to be hitting moves near perfect.”

Parker said he doesn’t want his wrestlers to have to think when they’re on the mat. He said it should all come naturally, and if one move doesn’t work, you move on to the other move. 

“On the guys’ team, we’ve got several seniors and a couple of juniors that I think could do well,” Parker said.

“I think Trenton Duncan could make it to the state. Aden Thompson has a very good chance, and Khalli Dishman is back after going to the state last year. Dalton Platz, one of the lightweights, could do well, and Chandler Gavin, you can tell, has put in a lot of work on his own.”

Some of the other guys figuring to battle for playing time are Jonathan Aguirre, Daniel Bell, Bradeck Cole, Teddy Dannel, Daniel Hawn, Fayan Hernandez, Dalton Jewell, Brice Martin, Ryan McCollam, Jack Neal, Isaiah McCulley, Jack Nealy, Joseph Patton, C.J. Redfield, Jonah Reuer, Jude Schapanski, Avery Scoville, Braden Thompson and Aiden Williamson.

Parker said he will learn a lot more about his team within the next few weeks after they actual compete against someone not wearing black and gold.

He said he will learn more about who should be in what weight class, and just how strong his  team’s depth will be.

“Several kids, at least in the initial look, seem like they might be able to help us,” Parker said. “However, wrestling is really hard on a person. I tell the kids all the time wrestling is about imposing your will. And, you can either be the hammer or the nail.”

Anna Scoville and Alina Thompson make up Stone Memorial’s current girls roster.

“Both have AAU experience,” Parker said. “ Scoville is a sophomore and she had a great year last season. Alina has been wrestling a long time and she should do very well.”

Now wrestlers are winding up their summer workouts as they prepare for a busy match schedule.

“There is never enough time to get ready for the season. I know they’re not in shape yet, but by Saturday I really want them to be aggressive and really go after their openings on the mat,” Parker said. “We want to see them tighten up on the basics.”