Young Highland wrestlers strive for learning, growth in 2021-22 season

Learning and growing will be the operative phrases used often as the Highland wrestling team embarks on the 2021-22 season.

Highland has just three returning wrestlers back from last year’s covid-truncated season that ended in June.

Top returners for the Bulldogs will be junior Aiden Conrad, sophomore Benny Mitchell, and sophomore Brandon Mifflin.

“They are the three kids we have that wrestled a significant amount of matches last year for us and will have a chance to place for us,” Highland coach Shorty Ohren said.

Mitchell will wrestle at 152 pounds and each class up to 170 pounds in matches. His versatility will help the Bulldogs score in each match.

“Benny wants the competition, so he’s going to wrestle wherever he thinks he can help the team (this year),” Ohren said.

Conrad, who advanced to the Mississippi Valley Conference meet last May, will work in the 190- and 192-pound divisions, and Mifflin is slated to wrestle at 145 and 152 pounds.

In the lower weight classes, junior Gage Pogue is set to work at 120 pounds while freshman Tyson Rackers is expected to work at 132 and 138 pounds.

“Tyson has been wrestling for a while, so he should be pretty decent,” Ohren said.

Mitchell’s younger brother, freshman Thomas Mitchell, is set to compete in the middleweights at 145 and 152 pounds.

Another freshman, Ashton Zobrist, should help in the upper-weight classes. Zobrist will wrestle at 185 pounds and 192 pounds.

That leaves the Bulldogs with the rest of their lineup being filled by a host of freshmen this winter. HHS has 10 freshmen, giving Ohren one of his youngest rosters during his HHS tenure.

“It’s one of my biggest freshman groups I’ve had and if they stick with it, I’m going to see them to the end,” Ohren said.

Ohren said the group’s main goal this season is learning each time out and growing as much as possible with each practice and match.

“They’re looking pretty good and getting there,” Ohren said. “They’re learning a lot and there are a few guys who have never wrestled but they are looking pretty decent and they’re picking up the stuff pretty fast.”

Highland opens the season Tuesday, Nov. 23, with a quad match in Effingham against Effingham, Centralia, and Pinckneyville.