The Oxford Chargers Wrestling team is gearing up for a successful season in year three of the program. Despite losing recently graduates like Knox McGown and Zadd Alowdi, the Chargers look to replace those roles with up-and-coming younger players who are ready to compete. The Chargers have a more challenging schedule this year and will have competitive matchups to look forward to. Head coach of the OHS Wrestling team Coach Konrad Ernst is returning for his third season at the helm. Ernst acknowledges that the dynamic of this year’s team will be much different than that of years past.
“Being a little over a month into the season, we are starting to find our rhythm and take on a new identity,” Ernst said. “We lost some excellent seniors since last year but are having other wrestlers step up and fill their roles. Our team will look different this year, but I fully expect them to compete with the same intensity and grit they had last year.”
The Chargers will travel out of state in an effort by Ernst to play skilled opponents that will better challenge and prepare his team.
“Compared to last season, we are set to have a more challenging schedule,” Ernst said. “We head up to Tennessee several times to compete against some tough out-of-state competition.”
The wrestling team will also play some high energy matches with in-state schools as well. Ernst is looking forward to seeing his squad perform against some difficult opposing teams.
“I’m looking forward to our duals with Saltillo, North Pontotoc, and Lewisburg, as they have been some of the top teams out of the North in recent seasons,” Ernst said. “The big date on our calendar is Jan. 18th, when we will host the MS Dual State Championships at Oxford High School.”
Senior wrestler Tristan Rodgers looks forward to taking the mat this season in what will be his last season with the OHS Wrestling team.
“I want to win individual state and go undefeated in all of my matches,” Rodgers said. “Last semester I wrestled up two weight classes and I am very confident in my abilities going into this season.”
Rodgers realizes how different the team will be this season without last year’s seniors, leaving a vacuum of leadership that he needs to fill.
“I feel like we have a lot of potential,” Rodgers said. “We have a lot of new people, and our destiny is in our own hands. We have a lot of experienced wrestlers on the team, but I definitely feel that with my age I am a leader on the team.”
Junior wrestler Prashna Tamang also has high hopes and expectations for this season from both a team-wide perspective and individually.
“My goal for this year’s team is to get a lot of finalists at state individual,” Tamang said. “Last year we had most of our girls go into the finals. I’m confident that we will dominate North Half and hopefully reach our goal as a top three team in the state.”
Tamang is also having to fill a bigger role on the team as an upperclassman. This year, she hopes to make a comeback and win individual state championships after almost securing the title her sophomore year.
“My personal goal for wrestling this year is to win state individual championships for the 145 lbs weight class,” Tamang said. “Last year I was very close, but fell short during the second period of my finals match. I’m very determined to win state this year, and am very grateful that I have a fantastic wrestling coach supporting and training our team.”
