Bengal wrestlers making strides with new coach

There really were only two choices for new Brighton wrestling coach Wade Brown — sink or swim. After taking over the program, the first-year head coach is more than keeping his head above water. The Bengals are proving that last season's top-five finish was not a fluke. With Brown as their new leader, the team is making strides toward improving on that mark.

"There's been some good and some bad," said Brown of taking over the program after two years on the staff as an assistant. "We have really good kids, so it makes it a lot easier, and there are a lot of parents and a good support group that is doing a really good job of making the job easier for me."

Part of the bad for Brown is the fact that his team is moving through the season without three wrestlers it was counting on. Transfer Jon Gappmaier was ruled ineligible by the UHSAA, as was Wade Eldridge originally— Eldridge eventually was married and moved to wrestle with Millard. Bo Beckman was also a potential state-placer that moved away from the team.

"You go in with high expectations and you hate to lose kids, but a kid could just as easily blow out a knee and not be there for you as well," said Brown. "We are not dwelling on it. We still have some really good wrestlers, and they are stepping up for us."

There are four wrestlers in particular that are blazing the way for the Bengals. Cole Shafer, K.C. Nate, Ky Lucero and Jaes Jones are all ranked at or near the top of their respective weight classifications and are potential individual champions.

Shafer is undefeated and won the prestigious Layton Invitational earlier this month. His coach said, however, that it is hard to classify exactly why he is so successful.

"He just finds a way to win," said Brown. "He has a little bit of an awkward style and it is not the most fundamentally sound approach, but he has a lot of heart and he finds a way to get it done. He doesn't ever give up on anything. It's not always pretty, but he always seems to come out on top."

Nate is a two-time state placer and has improved in the offseason. His coach said that he is one of the hardest workers he has ever been around and that the hard work pays off in the good results. He also groups Lucero in as having his hard work be one of the major reasons for his success.

Jones has lost only once on the year and is moving up the rankings. He could be one of the catalysts for the Bengals to not only earn team points but go for an individual title.