After a third-place state finish last season, the Homewood High School wrestling team is hitting the mat this year with ample motivation to improve, compete and win.
The squad has had three matches so far this season. There were no victories in their season opener against Oak Mountain on Nov. 19 because of sickness and dual-sport athletes were still in football season, so many key wrestlers did not compete.
The team got back on track on Nov. 21 in a quad match against Shelby County, Pell City and Holtville, the team as a whole winning all three matches.
At the Childersburg Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 23rd, four wrestlers won their weight class, and several others finished second, a strong showing for the Patriots against tough competition.
The team has many returning state placers on its roster. Seniors Cannon Ford and Fernando Trejo placed third last year. Senior Blas Correa Catano and Junior Cooper Bailey both placed sixth in the state tournament.
Head coach Frankie McKeown is appreciative of the team chemistry they were able to build in the off-season. He says the senior leaders’ actions strengthened their bond.
“Younger kids take after the upperclassmen’s leadership and willingness to compete,” McKeown said.
McKeown has full faith in the squad to go far and even win a state championship. He says that all wrestlers on varsity need to work together to reach that goal.
“In order to win a state championship, it’s going to take everybody from the varsity lineup to qualify for state,” McKeown said.
Senior wrestling captain Buddy Ketcham praised the team for their off-season training and believes that will be a necessary component to their in-season success.
“We had a lot of wrestlers do clubs such as IronClad and Warrior, wrestling other wrestlers from different schools,” Ketcham said. “Offseason is the best thing that happened to us and our guys did a phenomenal job getting better during that time.”
Ketcham’s goal as the captain is to create more of a family environment for the squad.
“I don’t want this team to only be focused on the mission ahead,” Ketcham said. “My main goal is for the wrestling team to feel almost like a formed brotherhood for our guys.”
Ketcham doesn’t plan to continue wrestling in college, so he wants to leave it all on the mat this year and make a lasting impact on his teammates.
“I don’t want them to remember me as just a good wrestler, but also as a good person and leader,” Ketcham said.
The team has its first home match on Thursday, Dec. 5 for a quad-matchup against Mortimer Jordan, Saraland and Brookwood.
