The Chippewa Hills wrestling team is at it again.
An overwhelming amount of success probably was not predicted for the Warrior program this year. It had lost wrestlers from last year, including state champion Zack Cooper, who after compiling a 60-2 record, transferred to another school. Damien Curtice and James Leiter, two state place finishers, had graduated. The only returning state placer was Zach King, who was 41-12 last year and who took sixth at 103 pounds.
But led by King and152-pound Jason Peacock, the Warriors have been enjoying another banner season, highlighted by a stunning victory over Central State Activities Association rival Hesperia, a Division 4 power.
As a team, Chippewa Hills has started out 17-2 and is undefeated in the league. The win over Hesperia was a first for the Warriors.
“That’s the first league loss they’ve ever had,” coach Nate Ethridge said. “We knew there would be seven matches that could go either way, swing matches. We needed to win a majority of those. We knew we had a shot of getting them. We wound up getting one more of those swing matches than I actually thought we would get.
“There were great individual matches, and it was a great match to watch. It’s been a great rivalry, and we finally got one.”
It’s Ethridge’s 13th year as coach, and he doesn’t think that the team has “completely peaked yet. We’re under the radar more than we’ve been the last couple of years. People didn’t think we were the strongest we have been. We don’t have that true superstar. It’s more like a blue collar team. It’s the kind of team we put out a solid kid in very weight and go to work.”
Peacock, a senior, is off to a 30-0 start, his best record ever. He qualified for state a year ago but did not place, something Peacock hopes to overcome this season.
“He was 40-1 going into the state meet last year and was cutting too much weight, and it eventually got to him,” Ethridge said. “He couldn’t maintain what he was doing. It was a good lesson for him. He’s at a happy and healthy weight and wrestling well. He’s a real competitive kid. He wrestles very hard.”
It’s Peacock’s fourth year of wrestling at Chippewa Hills.
He was not happy with last season, despite his impressive record.
“I didn’t end it the way I wanted to,” he said. “When I got beat out at state, at first I was doubting myself,” he said. “The next day, I was back in the room wrestling again. I didn’t even take a break. It really motivated me. I wasn’t satisfied with just being a state qualifier. You don’t want to set that as your only goal, because once you get there, then your goals are over. That motivated me to get better in the off-season.”
Peacock noted that he didn’t score off his feet a lot last year.
“I was more of a defensive person,” Peacock said. “This year, I lead the team in takedowns because my offense is more aggressive. Last year, I was scared to shoot. This is my last year and I have to do something. I concentrate a lot more on the little things like where my hand should be when I finish a shot.”
Peacock figures he’ll be at 152 for the postseason. He is avoiding targeting wrestlers he feels will be his stiffest competition.
“Everyone for me is tough competition,” he said. “I overestimated my first match at state and lost in overtime to a kid I beat earlier in the year. I never overlook anyone. Anyone can win. I’m really an underdog. Once I get to the state meet, I’ll have tough competition and will hope for the best.”
King is 30-3 at 103 pounds.
“I think he’s more of a complete wrestler this year,” Ethridge said. “He’s a competitive kid and is good in all three positions now. He’s come a long way. He had a great spring and summer. He worked hard. It has definitely paid off for him.”
Lateer Dukes, a senior and returning state qualifier, is 26-6. Rick Ostrander is 32-4 at 103, while senior John Lynch at 119 is 30-5. At 215, senior Cole Thielen is 29-6.
“I have a group of young kids; we pride ourselves in taking kids no one has heard of,” Ethridge said. “I have two sophomores that are doing a good job for us; with Mason Dey at 135 is 29-9 and Kevin Briscoe is 28-8 at 140.”
Chippewa Hills has gone to the team state finals five times.
“I like where we’re at right now,” Ethridge said. “We’re definitely headed in the right direction. If we keep going on the path we’re going, we could make some noise out there.”
“We’re really young,” Peacock said. “We just beat Hesperia. I think that gives the younger guys a bigger motivation for this year, and we have a chance to make a statement as well as any other team, and they can’t rule us out.”