Wrestling

Mexico Wrestling: More than Wins, Pins, and Medals
Posted on 12/08/2021

Mexico Wrestling: More Than Wins, Pins, and Medals
By: Tony Senor 

  The Mexico Wrestling program has had a long tradition of success and a history of developing strong young men and women of character. The sport of wrestling is more than scoring points, getting pins, or even winning at the highest level of competition. Wrestling teaches the valuable life lessons of hard work, never giving up, and struggling through adversity. Wrestling also shows our athletes what they are made of due to the nature of the sport. Wrestling competitions are one on one matches where defeat and victory comes down to the individual wrestlers on the mat. Another valuable lesson wrestling develops is the benefits of being on a team and being a good wrestling partner in practice. The Mexico Wrestling program pushes our wrestlers to be accountable in the practice room to help each wrestler meet or exceed their potential on the mat. The sport reveals what a wrestler is made of and how hard work, determination, and grit can help make you a better person. 

  The Mexico Wrestling Program serves wrestlers aged 4-18. The Mexico Youth Wrestling program has 50+ wrestlers that are taught on a sound foundation of technique and love for the sport. The Mexico High School Boys and Girls teams serve in the youth wrestling practices as instructors and teachers to help train up the next generation of Bulldogs. The Mexico Youth team wrestles almost every weekend from December until the middle of March.   

  The Mexico Middle School team serves about 30 7th and 8th grade wrestlers. The Mexico Middle School wrestler learns the benefits of being on a team and what it truly means to be a Mexico Bulldog wrestler. On average, each Mexico Wrestler will compete in 20-30 matches each season to gain valuable experience to get them ready for the next level in high school.    

  The Mexico Boys team is led by Head Boys Coach Gayle Adams. Gayle Adams has made Mexico Wrestling one of the toughest programs in the state of Missouri with producing multiple state champions, state medalists, and also leading the Bulldogs to their first team championship in 2018. The Mexico Boys team is looking to have a strong showing this season with returning Seniors Ricky Juarez, Keith Ransom, Dylan Mosley, Jokiah Sewell, and Deacon Haag. Keith is a returning State Champion from the 2021 season at the 126 weight class. Jokiah took 5th Place at 170 and Ricky took 6th at 120 at the State Tournament. Mexico will also have the following Varsity Lettermen returning on the team: Cameron Beasley, Keegan Koons, Morgan Grubb, and Emille Scanavino. The Mexico Boys team kicks off their season on December 3-4th at the Steve Leslie Tournament at Pleasant Hill High School.

  The Mexico Girls team is headed up by Tony Senor, who has served under Gayle Adams as Assistant Coach for the past 10 seasons. The Mexico Girls team is looking to build off of their first season in MHS history by making more history. All 5 girls from the 2020/2021 line up are returning this season with Katie Bowen, Abby Drew, Kaylynn Pehle, Choice Foster, and Brett Iman.  Each girl from the first Girls team earned All District Honors and qualified for the Sectional tournament in Versailles, Missouri. Katie Bowen earned a 2nd place finish at Sectionals and she became the first Girl in MHS history to qualify for the MSHSAA State Tournament. Katie was not done with her historic run and she became the first girl in MHS history to medal at the State Wrestling Tournament. The Girls program is looking to keep building off of this first season by having a full line up of 14 girls on the roster for the 2021/2022 season. The Girls team kicks off their season at the Marshfield Dual Tournament on December 4th. 

  Mexico Wrestling also prides itself on developing strong student athletes. This past season, Keith Ransom, Jokiah Sewell, and Katie Bowen all received Academic All State Honors by maintaining a 3.5 GPA and earning a medal at the MSHSAA State Tournament. 

  The Mexico Wrestling coaching staff is looking forward to another awesome season of wrestling and we could not do what we do without the support from the parents and the community of Mexico. We hope to see you at our matches this year to continue the rich tradition of Mexico Wrestling together.