Two returning state qualifiers will lead a young Marion wrestling team this season under the direction of third-year coach Tyler McMichael.
Marion’s two seniors, Charlie Nordquist and Ethan Darnall, bring state experience to the team and will provide leadership. Following a regional championship victory, Nordquist finished fourth at state a year ago. Darnall also returns with state experience.
As a team, Marion finished third at regionals and 11th at state, concluding with an overall record of 9-7.
“We are going to be a small team this year,” McMichael said. “It will be a great one to focus on the basics and fine-tune specific areas of our wrestling. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish with such a small team. We also have a younger team with only two seniors, so I look to make leaps and bounds with knowledge and skill level.”
With a smaller roster this season, McMichael said team scoring could provide a challenge.
“Our goals this year are to get better every single day in the practice room and to grow as individuals to be better than we were the day before,” McMichael said. “Another goal is to keep our grades up as a whole and keep as little names on the ineligible list as possible.”
Marion will kick off the season at the Burlington dual tournament Friday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m.
