Wrestling Prepares For New Season

The Jackson County wrestling programs began their new season on Saturday, Nov. 11. The boys squad hosted the Panther Scramble, while the girls competed in the Jefferson Girls Kick-off Scramble. 

The boys enter the season with new head coach Jim Gassman, who replaced former coach Jason Powers, who is now an assistant principal at West Jackson Middle School. The Panthers finished the 2022-23 dual season with a 22-4 record and had an individual state champion in Jose Pacheco. 

The girls team enters this season with head coach Jason Muehling, following a 2-2 record in duals last season, the inaugural dual season for girls inside the GHSA. The girls team saw two individual state champions last season in Lily Chavis and Raven Cook, both of whom have graduated. 

The boys team enters the 2023-24 season after earning Region 8 Duals runner up honors and a fourth-place finish in the state last year. The girls enter after also finishing fourth in the state meet last year and finishing as area runner up, placing inside the top 12 of the duals. 

Key returners for the boys team this year includes junior Domynic Thompson (120 pounds), junior Dylan Jurovschi (126 pounds), sophomore Toby Jurovschi (132 pounds), sophomore Beau Hoffman (144 pounds), senior David Warr (150 pounds), junior Zack Scott (157 pounds), senior Xavier Cepican (165 pounds), junior Josh Mendoza (215 pounds) and sophomore Alonso Ortiz (285 pounds). Others to watch include senior Malachi Kahele Carranco (120 pounds), and four freshmen — Austin Jurovschi (106 pounds), Donovan Spry (113 pounds), Robert Spry (120 pounds) and Daylan Maxwell (150 pounds).

“The wrestlers have put in a substantial amount of training in the offseason and are excited about the opportunity to compete this season,” Gassman said. “The team returns many experienced wrestlers and their success will be determined by their consistent desire and work ethic. We are also excited about our incoming freshman class and the immediate contributions they will be making to the team's success for this year!”

For the girls, key returners include: sophomore Aubree Dobbs (120 pounds), senior Anna Skoda (135 pounds), junior Charis Humby (130 pounds) and junior Alina Jurovschi (100 pounds). Others to watch include junior Maka Domingo Jr. (110-115 pounds), sophomore Abbi Andersen (170 pounds), freshman Amiya Edwards (145-155 pounds) and freshman Marie Sanchez (120-125 pounds). 

“Last year was one of the best years in Jaxco Women's Wrestling history with many record breaking performances. That success catapulted our program into the offseason with momentum to spare,” Muehling said. “We will look to our returners Aubree Dobbs, Anna Skoda, Alina Jurovschi, and Charis Humby to lead a talented group of newcomers through the 23-24 season. The effort and attitude is there for our ladies to make a run for the postseason. As in any year, we will go through growing pains early with so many newcomers but we will look to our returners to provide the leadership needed for success.”