West Platte Jhett Chandler made it to the district consolation bubble match last season and will look to make his first appearance to state this year.
WESTON – Having spent the last couple of seasons with historical outings at state, the West Platte boys’ wrestling team will only bring back one qualifier – Canton Wilkins – and will have four players on the girls’ team this winter, which is the most ever in program history.
In the 2023 Class 1 State Wrestling Championship, Wilkins went 1-2 to end his freshman campaign with some promise. Wilkins might be the only Blue Jay who made it to state last season, but he is joined by six teammates who lettered in the 2022-23 season.
“Along with returning state qualifier Canton Wilkins, we also have a tough wrestler in Jhett Chandler, who made it to the district consolation bubble match last year,” West Platte head wrestling coach Brett Swope said. “Our districts and conference are one of the best in the state and we hope to continue to compete with such great competition.”
Ryan Handgen and Colton DePetre fill out the small senior class, along with Garrett Moritz and Matthew Haynes being the only juniors. Aiden Hamilton will be alongside Chandler and Wilkins in the sophomore class and freshmen Jacob Larimer, Brody Scott, Henry Bargmann and Cuin Vincent will be on varsity.
“We are a young team, but we expect to reload after losing a great group of seniors,” Swope said.
West Platte is not only young on the boys’ side, but also on the girls’ side with no upperclassmen at all. Sophomores Addi Bailey and Sam Wilson make up half the team, as well as the freshman duo of Emily Haynes and Hana Hoover.
“I’m looking forward to this season. I hope to continue to build the wrestling program for the Weston community, but more importantly continue to build student-athletes of character,” Swope said.