Hillsboro wrestling team moving forward with new coach
For the Hillsboro Indians, they will begin the 2014-15 season with a new head coach, but someone who is not unfamiliar with the Hillsboro wrestling program.
The new head coach for the Indians is James Jones, a Hillsboro graduate and former youth and middle school coach for Hillsboro. After taking last season off, Jones is now the head coach of the team, replacing former coach Nathan Horne, who was at the helm for the past decade.
Jones spoke about taking over the program.
"It has been an enjoyable experience," he said. "I was glad to come out of retirement and contribute back to Hillsboro. I've been a part of the program for 30 years, between wrestling and coaching. I just want to give back to the program, help the young men out.
"For a 10-year period, I ran the youth and junior high programs, so I'm familiar with these guys. I first started out coaching as an varsity assistant in '95, and Dave Dietrick (the current HHS athletic director), who was my head coach, asked me if I would take over the junior high program."
HHS will also be without both of their state qualifiers last season in Ryan Kelley and Kordell Ford (a three-time state qualifier and a state runner-up last season).
"It is amazing not only at a high school level, but at the junior high level what our wrestling room has produced," Jones said. "The success of those before at the state level shows our guys, 'I can have success and compete at the state level.'
"That success helps out tremendously."
Though HHS is replacing a lot of experience at the coaching and wrestling levels, the program could be back on the upswing in a quick manner with 16 wrestlers on the roster to start the season. Hillsboro is trying to fill all of the weight classes, but most likely won't be able to achieve that feat this season.
For the Indians, seniors are: Toby Warrington, Cody Whaley, Zach Howard, Skylar Murphy and Jordan Mosley.
Last year, Warrington qualified for the district tournament, where he was 3-2 in his five matches. He finished the season at 26-14 overall. Warrington was third in the sectional round, where he was 3-1.
The junior class will consist of Lane Hester, Curran Butler, Zack Klisz and Jed Asmus. The lone sophomore for the Indians is Dustin Lewis.
There are six freshmen on the Indians' roster in Dawson Carter, Deegan Boris, Gabe Bolin, RJ Swackhamer, Chad Bieler and Wyatt Wilkin.
Of those wrestlers, the four who are returning to the team from last season are Whaley, Warrington, Butler and Asmus.
Back to having a new head coach, Jones spoke about why he chose to come back to take over the varsity program.
"I thought the program was in a critical point numbers-wise, and I wanted to come back and help get the numbers back up," Jones said. "The main reason is I just enjoy coaching. I enjoy being around the wrestlers and the relationships I've gained over the years.
"I just want to do my part to make this community better."
Then there are his expectations for the program.
"Our number-one expectation of this program is to get these young men to graduate high school. That's our number-one goal. We want them to be a part of something bigger than themselves and be a part of the team.
"As we put in character and desire to achieve their goals, the ultimate goal on the mat for these young men is to qualify and place at the state tournament every year. That's an individual goal, and as a team goal, we have to try and win the league."
To achieve those lofty wrestling goals, be it individual or team, the offseason for the HHS grapplers must be one of good productivity.
"The offseason was productive," Jones said. "We had about an average of eight kids show up to open mats, and most of them played football, so they were weight lifting.
"Even if they don't qualify for state, the kids who are in the room who finish fourth at a tournament or the kids who are just above .500 … they are important to the team. You have to have them to have any shot at winning a dual meet or winning the league. That's what I preach to them … every wrestler is important. From the state placer to a guy who is getting fourth in a tournament, we need all of those guys to come in and do their job."
With Jones being a part of the wrestling program for parts of three decades, the wrestlers on the roster know what to expect from their new varsity head coach.
"It helps tremendously with them knowing what to expect from me," Jones said. "They know my coaching style, and their families already know me. There is no mystery to how the program will be run."
Assisting Jones this season will be Jeremy Ratcliff, Greg Rhoads, Ron Stuckey and Brian Williams.