East Clinton will begin the 2023-24 season with a dedicated wrestling room and a girls program.
Things are on the rise in Lees Creek.
Doug Stehlin is in his 15th season as leader of the East Clinton wrestling program and the boys head coach while Kirstin Hackworth is the girls wrestling coach for both the high school and junior high teams. Assistant coaches in the program are Andrew Ramsey, Brian Hackworth, Joseph Voshall and Richard Burns.
“We have had a lot of exciting things happening recently at EC,” said Stehlin. “We were approved to begin girls wrestling teams this year. The high school girls team has a complete schedule for the season and will compete in the girls sectional at the end of the season to qualify for regional and state.
“A junior high girls schedule is still being worked on but will include girl events and boy events if they would like to wrestle on the boys team.
“Construction at EC is getting closer to being completed. We gained a brand new dedicated wrestling room that we have begun using and will have access to it year round.”
There are seven returning wrestlers from last season — Colton Brockman, Chase Carpenter, Avery Hughes, Christopher Rider, Owen Roberts, Hudson Singer and Curtis Singleton.
Singleton was sectional runnerup while Roberts was third in the SBAAC and third at sectional.
”We have several kids that are returning that may have been a part of the program in the past but took some time off and have decided to return,” Stehlin said.
Cooper Rack graduated from EC in the spring and is now wrestling at Wilmington College.
Stehlin said Rider and Hughes “did not participate in a fall sport and have been helping others at open mat and lifting and conditioning and will be great leaders as we begin.”
Stehlin is encouraged that 17 wrestlers have taken part in pre-season workouts. He hopes that number carries over to the start of the season and beyond.
“We need to fill as many weight classes as possible,” Stehlin said. “Wrestlers need to push each other in practice and hold each other accountable.”
Regardless of number, Stehlin said his Astros must get tougher to compete in the SBAAC.
”Teams in the SBAAC are tough and we need to step it up,” he said. “I would like to see the team contend for small school league champs. I would like to see five to six guys qualify for district with at least two qualifying for state.”
