Freshmen play key roles in MHS boys’ 2024-2025 wrestling success

Typically, those with inexperience must wait their turn.

That is not the case for some Marysville freshmen who are preparing for postseason wrestling action.

Marysville’s freshmen wrestling class is preparing for the postseason, which begins Saturday at home during the Division I sectional tournament. Freshman grapplers are from left, Keegen Andrews, Oliver Fox, Logan Adelsberger, Logan Shaw, Berkley Behrens and Jack Williams. Not pictured, Brian Waller.

(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)

The Monarch boys completed their regular season last week, claiming the program’s fifth straight Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division title.

That was accomplished with the help of seven freshmen grapplers.

Both veterans and newcomers saw everything the regular season had to offer in both the good and the bad.

Despite the latter, the journey to today’s Division I sectional tournament in Marysville is one most of them are happy to take head-on.

The freshmen class in the varsity lineup has garnered a total of 156 wins against 108 losses going into today’s sectional.

The cast taking to the mat this weekend includes Logan Shaw (106), Brian Waller (113), Oliver Fox (120), Berkley Behrens (126), Jack Williams (132), Keegen Andrews (165) and Logan Adelsberger (190).

Some of the records for the freshmen include Waller (22-13), Fox (22-22) and Adelsberger (18-15).

The junior high experience some of them had going into their first year of high school paid dividends and made their coaches’ jobs much simpler to do with their development.

“It’s not like a year’s worth of cultivating, if that makes sense,” MHS head coach Nate Andrews said.

He acknowledged the training they receive outside the room has served a vital part in their development.

“All the guys from the top down have been training for years.” he said. “It’s kind of like a brotherhood in that they train, work hard together, win together, lose together and they’ve always been there for each other.”

“I think it is a challenge going from middle school and only losing as much in one season as much as you do in one day in high school,” Williams (22-14) said. “There is a lot more competition and a lot more distractions with all the rankings… the coaches have been putting us in positions to be successful.”

Andrews pointed to the leadership of seniors Carson Mize, Boston Burkhardt, James Lowe and Gage Counts for their assistance in setting the example for the newcomers.

“I feel like that is the cultivating that has happened…it’s watching the legacy that has happened before them,” Andrews said.

Shaw said he’s received mentorship from his teammates. Some of the words of wisdom included not being worried about rankings or the singlet his opponent is wearing. Instead, focus on the match.

“Colton Powers talked to us about how you’ve got to stay focused on wrestling one match at a time and not jump ahead of the bracket,” Williams said.

“A big thing our coaches have been getting to us is wrestling the guy and not the team he wrestles for,” said Keegan Andrews. “It doesn’t matter where they are from, it is more based on that wrestler.”

While school was out due to Presidents’ Day earlier this week, the Monarchs were busy.

The end of practice was a mix of live wrestling and conditioning. The team convened at the end, praying for one another sharping their mindset and confidence ahead of the energy they will experience on Saturday.

The regular season produced many lessons for each freshman. The lighter weights boasted the most freshmen with Shaw (20-16) being the lightest of the bunch.

“I feel like the competition is pretty good and I knew it was going to be hard coming into this year,” Shaw said, adding his main focus has been trying to get better every day.

Some have had solid performances this season.

Behrens has the best record among his classmates at 27-14.

“My record reflects how I have done so far this season,” Behrens said. “Wrestling kids who are older than me has really improved my wrestling and it’s a lot coming in as a freshman not trying to focus on the ranking as much as the guy across from you.”

Expectations can quickly turn the other way.

Keegan Andrews (25-14) reflected on how his journey in the regular season left him feeling as though more could have been done on his end.

“I expected a lot more out of the regular season,” he said, adding it can be hard coming in as a freshman with the Monarchs’ tough schedule.

“I feel like the coaches have put us in a position to peak at the end of the regular season.”

Some of the freshmen are ready to hit the ground running this weekend.

Others are still anxious to see how well they do.

“For me, I wouldn’t call it anxiety,” said the younger Andrews. “I have been more excited about the postseason all year and I was waiting for it.”

“I’ve had my nerves going into it for what the competition is going to be like,” Shaw said. “I feel like going up to it, I just have to push myself so I can be as ready as I can.”

Some have mixed emotions. Thankfully, the regular season tournament schedule revealed a glimpse of high level wrestling.

“I’ve been pretty nervous, but I am a little excited to see where I am as a freshman going up against kids who have wrestled here before and have been to the state tournament,” Williams said.

“Wrestling at Maumee Bay and the Olentangy Classic are tournaments that are tough and similiar to sectionals and districts.”

“I don’t think I am nervous yet,” Behrens said. “I don’t think the nerves really set in until the day of when you realize this is it… It’ll be a little more surreal when you walk into the gym and everything is on the line.”

Coach Andrews wants the freshmen to take each match at a time and not look too far ahead.

The mystery of the postseason is one that is hard to predict. However, he wants to see the freshmen make the most of their time.

“Everybody is going to have their last match this year and if it is one that is not a win… if we can’t finish the season with a win, then we finish without any regrets,” said Coach Andrews.

“At the end of the day, if they can do that, I think it will program a sense of hunger for them going into the off-season… I am excited for all the guys from the freshmen all the way to the seniors.”

Some of the freshmen hope to make it another weekend keeping their seasons alive at the district event.

With time on their side, even if they cannot make the cut, they hope the journey will pay in the future.

“I am hoping I can qualify for districts,” Shaw said. “I want to see if I can place at districts.”

“I definitely want to make it to districts because that’s a goal,” said Williams. “I also want to get in the experience.”

Some have higher goals that go beyond the sectional tournament.

“My primary goal was to be a state qualifier,” Behrens said, adding his weight division has been crowded with people moving in and out. “My secondary goal this year was to get 30 wins and eventually be a state champ.”

“My main goal for this season was to be a state qualifier and hopefully be a state placer,” said Keegan Andrews. “I am going to take it one step at a time.”

Behrens said he believes the freshmen class could be something special for the program.

“We haven’t had a state champ since 2015 and I think this could be the start of a new era,” he said. “These next four years could be a real stepping stone and hopefully put some more names up on the wall.”