By DAVID COOK
Change is in the air for the Lowell wrestling team, but the one thing that will remain the same is that the road to this year’s state title will travel through the Showboat City.
The defending Division 2 state champions lost some key elements of last year’s team. State champion Bailey Jack and two-time state runner-up Garrett Stehley have graduated, along with Kanon Dean. The Red Arrows also lost head coach Dave Dean, who left to head up the Cornell University Olympic Development Program.
A familiar face is taking over the program, however. RJ Boudro has stepped up as head coach. Boudro, a graduate of Richmond High School, was a two-time NCAA qualifier at Michigan State University. He spent the past seven years as a varsity assistant at Lowell and knows the program well.
Lowell is gearing up for another state title run behind a trio of returning state champions. Senior Josh Colegrove (215 pounds) and juniors Lucas Hall (119) and Max Dean (189) are set for another big season.
Lowell has a solid senior class that includes Jordan Hall (145), a three-time state placer, Aaron Ward (125), a two-time state qualifier, and Logan Wilcox at heavyweight.
Juniors Kyle Washburn (112) and Dan Kruse (152) are a pair of regional qualifiers and sophomore Sam Russell (103) also qualified for state last year.