EVANSTON — Wrestling is synonymous with Wagstaff at Evanston High School. Head coach Larry Wagstaff has guided the program for more than 40 years. The EHS wrestling team celebrated the 2018-19 season with an awards dinner at the high school at the end of last month with the head coach serving as the master of ceremonies.

Wagstaff began by thanking the parents for all they endure as parents of wrestlers and then moved on to acknowledge his staff. The head coach described all of his assistants as great technicians and then singled out specialties that each brings to the program. 

Todd Nixon was praised for his statistical prowess and his efforts with TrackWrestling and “really making the program go.” Garth Wagstaff was labeled the team’s drill sergeant and the coach responsible for the planning and implementation of practice elements. Steve Moore was singled out as being the coach who relates best with the kids in the program and who ensures that the athletes are doing well outside of their time on the mats. James Burton, the head coach explained, “is one of my middle school coaches, who joins us once their season is complete and works with our big kids.” Wagstaff also had kind words of thanks to his coaches’ wives and his own wife for allowing all the coaches the opportunity to do something they love to do in coaching wrestling. He also expressed gratitude for senior mom, Erica Griggs for all the pictures she took throughout the course of the season and for the highlight video Griggs produced which would close the evening’s festivities.

The coach then had the freshmen in attendance stand to recognize the youth movement in the program, contrasting the 20 plus frosh to just three seniors. Wagstaff told the crowd the team struggled somewhat this year due to having young wrestlers compete on a varsity level, out of necessity.

“There were times this season when we went to meets or tournaments when we had six freshmen as our varsity guys,” then added, “The future really looks pretty good, if these younger wrestlers will stick with it and continue to work hard,” Wagstaff told the crowd assembled in the high school auditorium. We’re excited about that as coaches and we hope you’re excited about that as parents and wrestling fans,” Wagstaff shared.

The coach then spoke of one of the major accomplishments during the season.

“One of the highlights of our season was when we were able to beat Green River, who at the time was ranked number two in the state, and we did so with younger guys who really stepped up to wrestle.”

Overall participation numbers were on the upswing, according to the coach, as 49 wrestlers began the season, when around 30 wrestlers is the norm the program. Not all completed the season, as some dealt with concussions and other injuries, while others left the team, for one reason or another.

The “academic teams” were then introduced and summoned to the stage. Wagstaff explained that there were two divisions, one through the state, where a 3.5 GPA was the benchmark and the other, an EHS wrestling academic team, where a 3.7 GPA was required for membership. Wagstaff stressed the importance with academics for Red Devil wrestling. Clay Lester, Rigden Wagstaff, Quentzalli Penaloza, Payt Burton, Kody Rex and Jaxin Moore were recognized as members of Red Devil wrestling academic team, with a slew of wrestlers meeting the standard set by the state.

Participation awards were then issued to those in attendance, but the complete list is as follows: Josiah Bingham, Evan Boase, Myles Carlson, Juan Cerda, Sierra Darcey, Brendan Davenport, Brady DeGraw, Quinton Elmer, Carsen Knight, Hunter LaFave, JD Martin, Game Morris, Brady Potetz, Angel Rodriguez, Isaac Saavedra, Curtis Spelbring, Dakota Simpson, Nena sowers and Ethan Moir.

Wagstaff detailed what wrestlers must accomplish to receive a varsity letter in Red Devil wrestling. First, wrestlers must complete the season and either score 12 or more varsity points or qualify and participate on the team that competes at the regional tournament.

First-year letter-winners were Alix Aragon, Payt Burton, Bryson Davis, Payton Graham, Rigan Hoggatt, Tyler Jacobsen, Keegan Lester, Jaxin Moore,David Perez, Quetzalli Penaloza, Brock Roberts, Kody Rex, Abby Rusch, Jayden Schneider, Hunter Sims, Tyler Stokes and Guillermo Trejo.

Second-year letter-winners included Nick Child, Kendall Cummings, Logan Elsen, Mason Erickson, Kasen Landry, Eric Orozco, Rowdy Saavedra, Jordan Schneider and Brandon VanGrieson.

Third-year letter-winners were Clay Lester, Rigden Wagstaff and Payton Woodward, and two wrestlers, Pablo Escalante and Rylie Griggs were honored for lettering in all four years of their high school careers.

Part two of the celebration of the 2018-19 wrestling season will appear in a future issue of the Herald.