Over the past eight seasons, Seckman has earned a spot in the conversation about the best Class 4 wrestling programs in Missouri. Head coach Ryan Moyer believes this season, the Jaguars have what it takes to finish at the top of the list.
Between 2010 and 2017, Seckman finished seventh or higher seven times at the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships. After dropping to 13th place in 2015-16, Moyer’s first season with the squad, the Jaguars rebounded to place sixth a year ago.
“We’ve set a precedent for the last eight or nine years where anybody knows when you face Seckman, you’re going to get a tough match,” Moyer said. “That goes for a lot of teams that have successful programs where you know anytime you wrestle those (schools), like Lafayette, CBC and Francis Howell, you’re going to have a battle, and I feel like we have that type of presence.”
Seckman’s top finish since 2010 was third place in 2012, giving the program its third team plaque, all for finishing third. Moyer said this year’s squad could take the Jaguars even higher.
“The highest we’ve placed at state is third, and the most state placers we’ve ever had at one state meet is four, and I’m hoping we can improve on both of those,” he said. “With the way these kids have challenged themselves this summer, all the extra work they’ve put in, I really think (they) can take it to the next level and do things that have never been done at Seckman.”
Much of that optimism can be traced to the team’s potential dominance in the lighter weight classes. Junior Kai Orine returns to the 120-pound spot after winning the state title at 113 last year, posting a major decision in the championship match against Anthony Pisciotta of Timberland to finish with a 48-1 record.
Moyer said Orine, who placed third at 106 pounds as a freshman, competed in the Journeymen High School All Star Showcase on Nov. 11 and beat the No. 12-ranked wrestler in the country. The Jaguars’ leader on the mat is determined to earn a top-10 national ranking.
“He’s looking to top off last season and try to go undefeated, make a statement and prove a point that he’s the No. 1 guy in the state,” Moyer said. “He always wants to get better and be No. 1 in the room with everything, which is always good.”
Senior Cam Fusco returns at 126, looking to cap his prep career with his first state crown. Fusco placed second in each of his first three seasons, falling to CBC’s Malik Johnson in the championship match each time. But Moyer said Fusco, who recently signed to wrestle for the University of Missouri in Columbia, is relishing the opportunity to make history.
“He wants to leave his mark on the school as only the second kid from Seckman to place at state all four years,” Moyer said. “Cam knows what he needs to do to win.”
Senior Jack Wrocklage, a team captain, returns to wrestle at 113 after placing fourth at 106 last year.
“Jack’s probably the hardest working kid in my room,” Moyer said. “You never have to tell him to do anything twice. He’s always trying to get better, always trying to learn, and whenever he does things, he does them 100 percent.”
Seckman returns three other state qualifiers, including junior Jermey Ashlock, who came within a match of placing at 170 pounds but lost 5-2 in the third round of wrestlebacks to Northwest’s Chase Stegall. Ashlock will return to the 170 spot.
“Jermey has put in a lot of time and effort, and I really think he’s going to turn it on and do special things this year,” Moyer said.
Senior James Hummel will compete at 152 after qualifying for state at 145 last year, and junior Blake Fritz looks to earn a return trip to Columbia at 160. Moyer said Fritz has improved “leaps and bounds” in each of his first two seasons, while Hummel hopes to build off a strong finish to his junior campaign.
“James beat a couple kids who were really good in order to make it to state, and he’s one of those guys that got that taste, that feeling of what it’s like to be there,” Moyer said. “Now he’s really got that drive that he doesn’t just want to be one of those guys, he wants to put his name on the wall.”
Sophomore Skyler Akers will start the season at 106 after backing up Wrocklage as a freshman, and Moyer said he expects Akers, who won at the Seckman Invitational last year, to open some eyes this season.
“He’s a tough kid, been wrestling for a while, has a lot of little league experience,” Moyer said. “He has some tough shoes to (fill), but he’s definitely going to help us out.”
Senior Josh Buss returns at 195 after a torn labrum ended his 2016-2017 season with a 10-3 record.
“He’s just getting back into it, trying to get back into shape, and we’re hoping he can continue the success that he had last year,” Moyer said.
Other varsity starters include seniors Tyler Lowe (132) and Blake Johnson (182) and junior Andrew Warren (220). Moyer said several wrestlers are battling to fill the spots at 138, 145 and 285. How that goes will help determine how strong Seckman is in dual meets.
“I really think they know what kind of team they can be,” Moyer said. “These guys thrive on success. They really want to win, they really drive for it, and when you see some of the wins and the victories we got last year as a team, and you watch the excitement these kids get from it – how exhilarating it is – you can tell that thrill really drives them.”
Seckman will open the season at Fox’s Ron Sauer Tournament Dec. 1-2.