VERGENNES — Vergennes Union Wrestling Coach Eugene Stearns was smiling during a preseason interview.
His team grew to 13 wrestlers covering most of the weight classes, five freshmen signed up (his roster includes no seniors), and he has three assistants to help his athletes continue to progress. Three of those athletes return after reaching the podium at this past winter’s state championship meet: juniors Zach Botala, Aidan Gebo and Gabriel Payne-Vinick.
And Stearns is convinced other Commodores can join them on the podium at the end of this season.
“The room has been full of excitement. During practice you can feel the energy, and it’s been exciting to have a lot of bodies and good practice partners,” Stearns said. “If everybody stays healthy, by the end of this year I think we’ll be a force.”
Botala will wrestle at 145 pounds this winter, and Gebo at 132. Payne-Vinick will go at either 195 or 220, probably starting out at the higher weight.
The rest of ladder looks to shake out like this:
• At 106, three of the team’s five freshmen will seek the spot: Eli Brace, Samantha Hallock and Parker Kayhart, a newcomer to the sport. Stearns said Brace and Hallock are probably ahead because of experience and are running neck-and-neck, but wouldn’t count Kayhart out. One of this trio could also bump up to 113, but there are holes until Gebo at 132.
• At 138 promising sophomore Taylor Stearns will hold the fort.
• At 152 Jeremiah Moulton and Jack Chaput are likely to battle unless one can unseat Botala at 145.
• At 160 junior newcomer Gabriel Kadric and freshman Caden Howell will square off, with one likely to bump up to 170.
• At 182 junior Barret Barrows is the incumbent, although freshman Scott Botala could challenge. One could bump to 195 depending on Payne-Vinick’s status.
Stearns noted many on the team have improved from this past season by focusing on the sport in the offseason.
“We definitely have some dedicated athletes on the team,” he said.
Stearns expects the talent and hard work to pay off.
“Looking up and down this lineup, for this year and next year, I really believe the sky is the limit for these guys,” Stearns said. “I have a team of very smart athletes and some talented wrestlers, so I truly believe these guys can compete at the highest level with any team in the state. Given a little more time and a little more experience, I’ve very excited about what we can put out there.”