In only its second year of existence, the Greenwood High School wrestling team has taken yet another giant stride forward after competing in the 2014 state wrestling tournament last weekend at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. After winning a pair of individual state championships in 2013, the Bulldogs added one more individual title this year, but also finished fifth overall in the state.
Greenwood’s total of 141 points was the highest among any of the Class 6A schools who competed, and trailed only first place Little Rock Catholic (249.5), Bentonville (225), Springdale Har-Ber (208.5), and Rogers Heritage (168.5), all of which are Class 7A schools. Greenwood was the only 6A school to finish in the top ten, 25 points ahead of Searcy High School, its nearest 6A competitor.
GHS head coach John Kincade was obviously pleased with the results and what it means for the future of the program he started in late 2012. “We really improved this year,” said Kincade, whose team finished 24-10 overall, despite competing against much tougher competition in the 2013-14 season.
The Bulldogs will also be returning most of their wrestlers next season and could be poised to make a run at a state title, despite competing against 7A schools. “Next year we will have a chance,” said the hopeful coach, “along with Springdale Har-Ber. We’re going to be very strong as a team next year.”
Anchoring the squad since its inception and returning next season is Taylor Compton. The junior just earned his second straight state title in the 138-pouind division and was nearly unbeatable this season. The Bulldogs also had three other wrestlers with top six finishes including 9th grader Luke Palmer, who placed fourth in the 145-pound category. Sophomore Dustin Williams also placed fourth in the 120-poind division, while junior Caleb Erskine was fifth at 126 pounds.
According to Coach Kincade, senior Phillip Barker (132 pounds) was making a run at a medal before injuring his ankle, while Jadrien Flores (170) and Gunnar White (220) also narrowly missed out on medals. The coach said that before the state meet he had “a realistic goal of finishing somewhere between fifth and seventh, and they met those expectations.”