Thursday, December 7,  2006

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by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
   This may or may not be the year Grundy makes it all the way back from last year’s 15th-place finish at state to its customary place at the top.
  But this could go down as the year its journey back to state prominence begins.  
   A dozen wrestlers return for the Golden Wave, including three who placed at state last year. Four promising freshmen join them. There is talent and youth and a little bit more depth, and that’s a combination coach Travis Fiser likes.
  “It’s a good junior class,” Fiser says. “We have some good freshmen and we can top it off with some good leadership out of our seniors. I’m excited about getting started, to see where we’re at and see where we need to go.”
  Three juniors who placed at state as sophomores will set the pace. Josh McCowan placed fourth at state last year at 145 pounds. Demarco Owens placed seventh at 171 and Josh Lee placed eighth at 189.
  Other solid returnees among last year’s 11 state qualifiers include defending regional champ Jerami Bartley, Andy Stiltner (275), Morgan Owens (160), Jarrett Landis (135), and Brandon Hankins (130).
  Also returning is former state qualifier Kaleb Smith, a 145-pounder who missed last season with a shoulder injury. Smith, like the rest of this crew, is anxious, Fiser says, to get on the mats.
  “We’ve got some guys like Kaleb Smith,” Fiser said.
  “We didn’t have him at all last year. He’s got a lot of upside. He’s very hungry.
  “Last year at the state tournament we got a bad taste in our mouths. This team’s got a lot to prove.”
  Fiser says one goal this season is to improve week by week and not be satisfied with any one successful weekend.
  “These guys need to get tougher every week,” Fiser added. “I’ve been really impressed with the leadership. The effort’s there. The kids have been working really hard, but you don’t really know till you compete.
  “We have some good freshmen coming in this year who have a lot to offer this team. We’re anxious to go see where we’re at.”
  The lineup will be minus two state qualifiers who elected not to return this season. It could include any of four freshman, Ethan Owens, John Dotson, Patrick Yates and Garland Cleek.
  Also vying for a spot in the lineup is sophomore Alex Edwards, along with junior Billy Owens and senior Sage Lester.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

Two Key Reserves Join Ashby in Grundy's Rebuilding Task
Wave Looking to Repeat Last Year's Post Season Success

by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
   It would be difficult to imagine a more inspiring run than the one Grundy made at the end of last season.
  Despite a series of injuries that affected one key player after another, the Golden Wave scrapped their way through a three-team playoff and to a SWD tournament championship, and advanced two rounds into the Region IV playoffs.
  Only one fulltime starter returns from that 17-10 club. But 6-foot-5 post Jimmy Ashby is a good one to build around.
  Two key reserves who gained valuable experience as injury replacements last year promise to offer Ashby plenty of help, especially on the offensive end. If Grundy gets any help from some promising newcomers, meanwhile, the potential is there for another exciting post-season run under second-year coach Greg Rife.
  The Wave lost four-year standouts Theo Justus, Stephan Baker, Tigh Compton, Anthony Mullins and Aaron Church to graduation. Rife must rebuild around the athletic Ashby, a sure-handed post who contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.
  “Jimmy Ashby has great athletic ability,” Rife says.
  “He reacts quickly to situations. He’s a good leaper. He’s physically strong and mentally tough.
  "When Jimmy Ashby is on the floor, you're guaranteed to get 100 percent. He’s a competitor, he hates to lose and he's a pleasure to coach."
  Ashby should get help early from junior wings Bobby Peck (6-1) and Cody Billiter (5-11). Each filled in capably late last year and will assume more critical roles this season.
  "Losing Theo and Stephan Baker's scoring, the hustle of Church and Mullins and the smartness of Tigh will be tough," Rife said. "But, because of injuries, Bobby and Cody both got a lot of minutes last year. That will benefit them this year, because we were in a lot of close games.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.