By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

LINDSBORG – The Smoky Valley wrestling program did not compete in league meets due to Covid in 2020-21 but did send a pair of Lady Vikings to state where Madi Tolle finished third.

For the upcoming 2021-22 season, head coach Ben Elliott says the team will be lower in numbers, so filling as many weight classes as possible is their main goal during the regular season.

The Vikings did graduate three from last season’s varsity including Tanner Luttig who in the 2019-20 season finished third at regionals and sixth at state.

Only two seniors return to the mat for Smoky Valley with Justice Gardner on the boys side and Madi Tolle on the girls side.

Tolle had a spectacular season, going 17-1 overall and winning her regional before placing third at the state meet.

Noelle Peters also returns for the Lady Viking grapplers, and she also qualified for state after placing fourth at regionals.

Connor Barnes will look to improve and provide team leadership after finishing just one match win from going to state as just a freshman.

Coach Elliott noted, “We will just have to compete hard and get better every time we hit the mat.”

Here is a complete summary of the upcoming 2021-22 season for the Smoky Valley Viking Wrestling team:

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS OPENING MONTH OF THE 2021-22 SEASON =

Saturday, December 4 = Lady Vikings at McPherson

Saturday, December 4 = Vikings at Riley County

Thursday, December 9 = Vikings at Chapman

Saturday, December 11 = Vikings at Hesston

Friday, December 17 = Lady Vikings at Abilene

WHAT YOU GET WITH SMOKY VALLEY HEAD COACH BEN ELLIOTT =

  • Coach Ben Elliott is in his 17th season leading the Smoky Valley wrestling program.
  • Dual record of 2-5 in 2020-21 while all league meets were cancelled.
  • In 2020-21, the Viking boys finished 15th at Regionals, the Lady Vikings placed 6th.
  • 2 Lady Vikings qualified for state with one, Madi Tolle, finishing third.

VIKING WRESTLERS WHO GRADUATED/TRANSFERRED =

  • Tanner Luttig, 195 lb. graduate; finished 2019-20 33-12 while placing 3rd at regionals and 6th at state.
  • Braunson Golden = 145 lb. graduate; finished 2019-20 17-13.
  • Leroy Bean = 220 lb. graduate; finished 2019-20 12-22.

KEY RETURNING VIKING WRESTLERS FOR 2021-22 =

  • Justice Gardner = 132 lb. senior; 17-6.
  • Connor Barnes = 113 lb. sophomore; 18-6.
  • Richard Zeller = 160 lb. junior; 15-15.
  • Justin Holt = 220 lb. junior; 5-5.
  • Alex Grosland = 220 lb. junior; 11-16.
  • Noelle Peters = 109 lb. junior; 11-8; place 4th at regionals; did not place at state.
  • Madi Tolle = 191 lb. senior; 17-1; placed 1st at regionals; finished 3rd at state.

INCOMING PLAYERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO =

None mentioned.

WHAT COACH BEN ELLIOTT HAS TO SAY =

“We return just two seniors in Justice Gardner on the boys side and Madi Tolle on the girls side.”

“Connor Barnes was one match win from qualifying for state as just a freshman last season.”

“Madi Tolle was our star for the Lady Vikings as she placed first at regionals and third at state last season.”

“Noelle Peters is a junior who also qualified for state for the Lady Vikings.”

“We have three others who return with varsity experience in Richard Zeller, Justin Holt, and Alex Grosland, all juniors this season.”

“Overall, our numbers are lower so we will be looking to fill as many weight classes as possible with our main goal being able to compete hard and get better every time we hit the mat.”

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