BARTLESVILLE BRUINS
BOYS WRESTLING
Coach: Bryan Vashus
OUTLOOK
The gym is starting to heat up but wrestling rooms around Oklahoma are already sitting at 90 degrees. Bruins head coach Bryan Vashus is working with a young team this season, but he is confident they have some wrestlers who can be competitive all season.
“We are a young team that is ready to work and close the gap on its competition. A number of wrestlers have been working all summer up to the present. We are looking to take at least three to state this year and land at least one on the podium at state,” said Vashus.
You would be pressed to find a wrestler hungrier than Marquis Johnson (Sr.). According to coach Vashus, Johnson has put in a lot of work this summer and is looking forward to taking the mat.
“Marquis is hungry and eager to get the season started. He’s been working all summer and shown a lot of growth just in the past few months. He likely will anchor our 157-pound classification. He is a senior and realizes this is his last shot to make his high school mark,” said Vashus.
Mitchell Hurst (Sr.) brings a work ethic to the wrestling room the coaching staff loves. Hurst will push himself and his teammates and is called a very “coachable” wrestler.
While Hurst sets the tone for the room, Joshua Vashus (Fr.) is the model student and wrestler on or off the mat. Another underclassman to watch is Christian Ketiku (Fr.) who brings toughness and natural talent to the room. Ketiku will likely wrestle at 120-pounds with Vashus wrestling at 126.
Other wrestlers to watch include Dominic Johnson (Fr.) at 106lbs, James Coleman (Jr.) at 113lbs, Ethan Shattuck (So.) at 132lbs, AJ Kerr (Sr.) at 138lbs, Ezekiel Mier (So.) at 144lbs, Jon Ramirez (Sr.) at 175lbs, Camden Dainty (So.) at 195lbs, and Ashton Sider (Sr.) at 215lbs.
The Bruins plan to attend several tournaments including the Gary McKee Bulldog Classic in Okmulgee, the Ray Nunley Memorial tournament at Edison, and the Larry Wilkey Invitational at Jenks. Dual season opens with Vinita High School on December 3rd.
