On the very first day of Manitou Springs Mustangs’ wrestling practice, a welcome sight could be seen on the practice mats.
Wesley Reeves, a former state qualifier who didn’t wrestle for the Mustangs during the 2021-22 season, was there and ready to work.
“Last year a bunch of things happened (for me) and it didn’t all work out,” Reeves said. “I really love this team and I’m ready to compete with them. I love (Paul) Bonner, he’s a great coach and my sister is here, and I want to spend my senior year with her.”
His sister, Abby, just missed the cut when it came to qualifying for the state tournament last February. She would’ve joined Hannah Hollick-Mitchell, the first girl to ever advance to state for the Mustangs.
The program’s overall mood heading into the season is one of optimism. The numbers suggest that Manitou is a program very much on the rise and several returning wrestlers from last year are ready to work and get their pictures on the wall with the other state qualifiers.
“We took 13 kids to wrestling camp this summer,” Bonner said. “I think we’re going to top 20 kids in here, I hope.
“Having older and more experienced kids will raise the quality of practice. We also have five or six kids who are doing club wrestling.”
That experience helps in the course of a season. But simply having kids compete more often doesn’t do much without some leadership to go along with it. On the girls side, that will certainly be something that Abby Reeves can provide, while Wesley and Bradyn Dowling will provide it for the boys.
When pondering what this team is capable of, Bonner conservatively said that four wrestlers could get to the state tournament at Ball Arena. That would be the highest turnout at state in quite some time for the program, but with each passing year under his belt as a coach, it’s a mark that he wants the wrestlers to strive for.
“It’s all about culture,” Bonner said.
And culture doesn’t just happen out of ideas. It comes from the work of kids who were here before the kids who are here now and the kids who will be here in the future.
It’s something that drew Reeves back to the program and he’s excited to help set the tone and try to raise the profile of Manitou wrestling this season.
“You have to work hard if you want to do well in this sport,” Reeves said. “This isn’t something where you just show up and you’re there. You have to participate and you have to want to win.”
Manitou Springs wrestling
Head coach: Paul Bonner
2021-22 result: One state qualifier (Hannah Hollick-Mitchell)
Key returners: Bradyn Dowling, Abby Reeves, Wesley Reeves
First competition: Dec. 3 at Pueblo Central Invite