The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk wrestling team is on the mat for the first time in the 2020-21 season on Tuesday when they travel to Wapello for a quad meet with Eddyville-Blakesburg, English Valleys and the Indians. The Golden Hawks were 14-14 a season ago with a 7-6 mark in River Valley Conference duals. They finished sixth at the RVC Championships. The Golden Hawks sent a school record six wrestlers to the district meet at Center Point-Urbana where Isaac Boucher qualified for the state tournament for the second straight season. Along with Boucher, Mid-Prairie lost Mason Hartley, Beau Stutzman, Cory Allen and Tristan Novy to graduation. Leading returners include district qualifiers Vinny Bowlin, Cael Garvey, and Ben Meader. That trio combined for 94 wins last season led by Garvey’s 39. Heavyweight Gannon Callahan is also back after a 36 win campaign last year. For the Golden Hawk girls, Sarah Meader had a sixth place finish at the state meet. Mia Garvey and Madison Kelly both won multiple matches at the girls state meet a year ago. All three are back this year. This week, Mid-Prairie head coach Justin Garvey talked about this year’s team. “Alot of big things have happened. Last season we had the biggest team in school history. This year, we have the biggest team in school history. The program keeps growing. We have more kids that want to be involved. This year we have a great senior class. Vinny Bowlin is back after being one match away from qualifying for state last year, so I’m looking for big things from him. Ben Meader, broke into our lineup late last year and made a run to districts. So it was great experience for him. I think that has made him hungry now. He probably had the best off-season work out of anyone, he went to boot camp with the National Guard and got in shape. Josh Wallington is also back at 220. With those three seniors we are looking for big things and for them to be leaders. In the junior class, heavyweight Gannon Callahan is back after being one match away from state last year. He’s put on a lot of size and strength. Cael Garvey is also back this year, after being one match from state.”
Eddyville-Blakesburg was 20-4 a season ago, wrapping up their year as a regional dual qualifier. The Rockets were led last season by 182lb state champion Sage Walker and 145lb state runner up Trestin Sales. Walker has moved on through graduation but Sales returns for his final season. The Rockets took the dual with the Golden Hawks last year 54-30.
The English Valleys Bears posted a 10-12 dual record last season. They were led by Cael Hester who qualified for state in the 170lb weight class in 1A as a senior. Mid-Prairie got the win over the Bears last year 46-33.
Wapello was 12-10 a season ago. The Indians were led by three state qualifiers in 2019-20. Daniel Meeker made the podium in fourth at 145lbs and Michael Moore and Christopher Ewart at 132 and 138 both qualified for the tournament. Ewart is the lone member of the trio returning. The Golden Hawks beat the Indians 41-39 in their only meeting last year. Action starts Tuesday at 6p.m. at Wapello High School.