Plains coaches recognize young wrestlers

The Wild Horse Little Guy Wrestling Club in Plains recognized several of its members at an awards ceremony at the Plains new gymnasium Friday evening.

Nearly 90 people, including 41 of the 58 members of the Plains team, attended the 40-minute ceremony, led by Lisa Brown, president of the wrestling club board, and Jesse Jermyn, the team's head coach.

Jermyn thanked the board members, the five coaches, the parents, and the wrestlers for their hard work. The individual coaches - Kyle Brown, Michael Chenoweth, John Thurston, Beau French, and Keaton Bannout - each announced the "coach's pick" for the wrestlers they were working with.

The biggest award for the night went to 14-year-old Greg Tatum, an eight-grader wrestling in the junior high 145-pound weight class. Tatum took home the coveted KLM Memorial Award, named in honor of Kenny L. Marjerrison, who passed away in 2017. Marjerrison had been a longtime coach for the Plains High School wrestling team and the Little Guy Wrestling program. Jermyn said that when Marjerrison passed away, "It took a huge chunk out of the wrestling family."

This was only Tatum's second year as a Little Guy wrestler. He said he competed when he was in kindergarten, but took a long break until 2022. "I was really surprised that I got it, but it was nice," said Tatum, who took fourth at the state competition in March, winning two matches and losing two.

The KLM Memorial Award was created last year for the Little Guy wrestlers, but it was decided to add the high school wrestlers to the plaque this year, said Jermyn. Chance Angle and Beau Crabb tied for the honor last year. Brady Schrenk, a senior, won for the high school team this year.

Jermyn also recognized the KLM Memorial Award nominees: Levi Sturdivant, Billyray Holotta and Owen Jermyn. Jermyn placed second in the middle 105-pound class at state. Holotta took third in the junior 132-pound class and Sturdivant finished second in the novice 95-pound weight class.

Sturdivant received the Coach's Pick Award and the Warrior Award, along with Tatum, Jermyn, Cody West, Matthew Thurston, Kage Tuma, and Kiara Brown. Coach Jermyn read the long list of criteria for the Warrior Award, which included actions on and off the mats, such as attitude, drive, respect for parents, teachers and coaches, striving for academic achievement, and willingness to lead when leadership will better the group, and follow when they are not required to lead.

"The attitude and motivation in this group was awesome. We had a number of junior high kids that came out for the first time or returned after a break. They helped set the standard and that set the team dynamic in a way that drove us forward," said Jermyn, who also coached the Plains Hot Springs wrestling team this season and plans to coach Little Guy next season.

Jermyn said the other nominees for the Warrior Award were: Levi Chenoweth, Colton Scarberry, Louis Jermyn, Gavin Brown, and Jay Howell.

The Coach's Pick Awards also went to Levi Sturdivant, Lewin Lang, Lyla MacDonald, and Mason Goodwin. The Biggest Heart Award went to Jay Howell. The Technician Award went to Billyray Holotta. The Assassin Award went to Matthew Thurston. The First Year Phenom Award went to Lyla MacDonald. The Turnaround Award went to Justin Crane. The Perseverance Award went to Xander Mathis. The Grizzly Awardwent to Levi Chenowet,. the Rocky Award to Colton Young, the Technician Award to Lewin Lang the Focus Award t to Louis Jermyn, and. the Happy Award to Braidy Rivinius. The Natural Award went to Pearl Ferlan.

Jermyn recognized three wrestlers in the pee wee class with the Young Starter Award - Dakota Holotta, Lane French and Oliver Painter.

"At some point I realize that I might have to hand off the head coach position and become an assistant for little guy, but I'm not in a hurry," said Jermyn. "When the right person comes along we'll know it and make the transition. If not, I love it and will keep doing it."

Those on the Plains team who competed at state, but did not place included: Justin Crane of the novice 140 class, Mason Goodwin in the middle 70, Kage Tuman in the middle 85, Jay Howell in the middle 147, Cody West in the junior 120, and Weston Wagoner in the junior 152.

Mathew Thurston nabbed first place in the junior 95-pound class. Lyla MacDonald took first in the girls junior 205-pound class. In second place in the junior 182 class was Jayden Grounds. In the girls 120 class, Kiara Brown took third. Liam Ciferri also placed third in the junior 138 class. In the novice 70-pound class, Kalen Chenoweth finished fourth. Kylar Bannout finished fourth in the girls 105-pound class.