BRITTON-HECLA MATMEN KICK OFF WINTER SPORTS

    The Britton-Hecla wrestling squad will be the first of the winter sports teams to kick off its 2025-26 campaign, traveling to Clark-Willow Lake for a tournament on Saturday and competing against Clark-Willow Lake and Redfield in a triangular at Clark on Tuesday.
    This week kicks off a busy pre-Christmas schedule for the Braves as they will compete in three tournaments and a dual before Christmas, giving wrestlers anywhere from 11-18 matches under their belts before the holiday break.  The local grapplers have two home dates on the schedule this season but will be on the road until February.  Those home matches will be Feb. 2 and the regular season finale on Feb. 12.   
    Young but experienced has been the mantra for the B-H matmen the past two seasons, but now some of those youngsters are growing up.  Three state qualifiers return from a year ago in seniors Bryce Hawkinson and Tucker Hardy and junior Ben Suther.  The trio has also been named captains for this season and will provide veteran leadership.  Hawkinson placed seventh at 144 pounds at the state meet, finishing with a 34-5 record, and Suther was eighth at 165 and compiled a 38-17 mark.  Hardy was a qualifier at 215 pounds and posted a 34-15 season record.
    “I think we have a nice mix of older and younger kids this year,” said Coach Josh Hawkinson, who is assisted by Mike Atkinson and Chad Chapin and beginning his eighth year at the helm.  “The veterans have been really good at pairing up with the younger guys and giving them their little tricks and things they do to be successful and making sure they are doing things right.  I’ve been in rooms in the past when all a kid wanted to do was beat the other kid in practice, but that’s not what the practice room is about.”
    Rounding out the group of 14 letterwinners back this season are sophomores Lincoln Kilker, Carter Grobe, Tanner Atkinson, Colton Chapin, and RJ Maxwell; freshmen Max Suther, Liam Paxton, and Olivia Borgen; and eighth graders Henry Kilker, Jarrik Jones, and Corbin Dawson.  A total of 19 grapplers reported for preseason practice.
    One of the Braves’ strengths will be their ability to fill most of the weight classes.  Filling spots for the C-WL tourney will be Henry Kilker at 106, Lincoln Kilker at 113, Jarrik Jones at 120, 126 is open, Carter Grobe at 132, Tanner Atkinson at 138, 144 is open, Corbin Dawson at 150, Bryce Hawkinson at 157, 165 will be open, Ben Suther and Colton Chapin at 175, Tucker Hardy at 195, and Liam Paxton and Ryan Maxwell at 215.  In the dual matches on Tuesday Maxwell may move up to 285 and Max Suther or Colton Chapin may fill the 165 spot if they can qualify for that weight class.
    “I think the fact that we will be able to fill almost every weight class this year is our biggest strength,” noted Hawkinson.  “All but one of the wrestlers I have in the room this year have previous experience and that understanding makes it easier to pick things up in practice.  Also, with two seniors in the room, I’m hoping to see them help the other kids develop some confidence in themselves.”
    Hawkinson feels his squad should be competitive in dual meets this season and has hopes of improving upon the Braves’ three state qualifiers of a year ago.
    “Sisseton, Clark-Willow Lake, and Deuel always have good wrestlers and I would hope that we have the kids to compete against those teams this year,” said Hawkinson.  “And we want to concentrate on getting to state individually.  Our three returning state qualifiers have all placed in the state tournament and I would expect them to return, and I’m looking forward to seeing what some of these young guys can do.”