For Stewarts Creek, its “State or Bust” in 2016
With week one of official high school practices under their belt, the Stewarts Creek wrestling team still has numerous more weeks to prepare for their team goal: qualify for state duals.
The team has adopted the motto “State or Bust 2015/2016” as motivation and a focus point for their upcoming season. The goal is to be the first team to go to state duals and being that it’s only their third year, everything’s a first.
Coach Mark Gonyea has high hopes for this upcoming season, “We have some pretty stout wrestlers.” After a 15 year stint coaching at Smyrna, Coach Gonyea accepted the role of putting together a wrestling team at the brand new Stewarts Creek High School in 2013. Year three and the Redhawks are becoming a prominent figure in Middle Tennessee, with Blackman and Siegel being the teams to beat.
This year Stewarts Creek has returning state medalists Dylan Coggins (6th at 113), John Olivieri (5th at 152) and Tyler Barber (6th at 220), and returning state qualifiers Carson Helton and Gabe Rogers leading the team.
(John Oliveri (left), Dylan Coggins (middle), and Tyler Barber (right) were all state medallist in 2015 for Stewarts Creek. They all return and look to improve on their individual state finishes)
“We have some guys that are going to be a surprise this year,” said Coach Gonyea. “I don’t want to name them to keep a target off their backs.” He couldn’t keep the target off of everyone’s back with wrestler Tyler Barber being ranked No. 1 at 220 this year. “We’re looking for our first state champion.”
The team started out with around 40 wrestlers, experienced and recruited from within the school hallways, but Coach Gonyea predicts it will drop to around 30 as the season picks up. “There’s a good mixture of guys, the more experienced wrestler sharpen the new guys.”
Because of their size, the team won’t have a problem filling weight classes, and he keeps things fair with constant wrestle-offs. No matter what, everyone gets a match with the amount of JV and Varsity tournaments they attend.
Redhawk Rampage is the invitational wrestling tournament hosted by Stewarts Creek in January. Originally called the Dog Pound when he coached at Smyrna, Coach Gonyea brought the tournament with him. Last year, the Redhawks won the team title and are looking for a repeat.
Bradley Invitational, Indian Classic and GP West are scheduled for the team. But the most anticipated date on the schedule is the State duals qualifier!
(Story by Clarissa Ceffalo)
