According to 10th year Head Coach Trent Holland, the Enid High Wrestling Team is team-oriented and hard-working. So hard working, in fact, they have had several injuries, including to some of their top guys. “I don’t think we have wrestled at full strength but for maybe one dual this year. One of our two or three best guys, Andrew Starzman, is out for the season, and we have other guys who have missed for injury and just being sick, so that’s been tough” said Holland, “but we have been able to field a full team except for one spot for most of the duals this year.”
And while the dual record this year isn’t where they want it to be, Coach Holland says they have been fun to coach and have shown improvement as the year has gone on. “I really like that the team has a great attitude this year. They come out, work hard, get better, and act as a cohesive team. We haven’t really had much bickering with each other, and I’ve seen several instances of guys picking each other up, like a couple of our heavyweights going and giving kids fives and telling them good job. Seeing them encourage each other like that, without prompting, is fun to watch.”
For the first time in a while, EHS does not have a returning state qualifier, so it’s up to someone new on the team to step up and show they have what it takes. “Vinny Vandiver (Senior, 126 pounds) has been wrestling well and just took 3rd at Mid America Nationals, and that’s a tough tournament,” said Holland. “If he puts in the work and decides he wants it, has the right mindset, he can make it. There are a couple of others that could make it too, but they have to have that mentality to put in the extra work and get it done. I’ve been really impressed with Levi Tribble, (Junior, Heavyweight) who hasn’t been wrestling for very long but currently has a winning record, which is hard for a relatively new kid to do in 6A. Brenden Stucky (Junior, 106) is right there as well and has won some matches.”
Girl’s wrestling is a fast-growing sport, and the high school has seven girls competing right now with another seven at the junior high level. While not quite the numbers of some other 6A schools, it is encouraging that there are a few who want to put in the effort. Shae Salinas has turned her time at Enid High into a scholarship at Ottawa University in Kansas where she is a freshman starter for their women’s wrestling team.
Lastly, as any high school wrestling fan knows, your program is only as good as your feeder programs, and Enid has some real hammers at the youth and junior high level who will be moving up in the next few years. Our youth and Jr. High coaches, like Corey Clayton, have some kids who should be really tough if they stick it out and make it to high school. Holland says, “5th grader Beckett Newman just won a tough national tournament in Tulsa called USJOC, and a few others have been medaling across the state. They will be fun to coach.”
