2017-18 Centennial Wrestling Capsule

CENTENNIAL

Head coach: Steven Wike, ninth season

Returning lettermen: Twelve

Top wrestlers: Nico Antuna (Sr.), Ryder Marchello (Sr.), Tyler Roper (Sr.), Mac Tyra (Sr.), Richard Kilgore (Sr.), Ike Edwards (Jr.)

Outlook: On paper, the Bulldogs already looked strong headed into the 2017-18 season. And then they picked up two more big-time talents in transfers Marchello and Roper.

Roper, who likely will wrestle at 182 pounds this season, was the Sunset Region champion at 152 in 2016, and Marchello (145) was the region runner-up at 145 last year.

Antuna (138) won a region title and finished second in the Class 4A state meet last year, and Kilgore (170) and Edwards (160) both were fourth in the region in 2016.

“We are going to wrestle and have loads of fun doing it,” Wike said. “Our lineup will be mostly seniors and juniors. The biggest hurdle that stands in our way is our three upper weights all being freshmen, however when you have a group of leaders like Nico Antuna, Richie Kilgore, Mac Tyra, Ryder Marchello, Buck Altman, and Tyler Roper we expect our younger wrestlers to rise to the level of very experienced senior leaders.

“And of course the addition of Marchello and Roper makes our room that much more competitive. We also have two very capable junior light weights in Omar Gonzalez and RahJah Harris who are returning lettermen and very excited for the 2017-18 season.”