A quick peek at the returning points in Mississippi
Hey everyone … locked hands season is in full swing, but I’m beginning to work on the numbers from last season, how much each team returns, who should be on the watch list, etc. and as a result I thought I’d share a post with you each day (or every other day) of some of the top teams (as measured in returning state points). We are long way from the 2023-2024 season so this will likely change over time, but this is what we have at the moment.
NOTE: This makes a big assumption … that all of the grades in trackwrestling are accurate.
NOTE II: I made a error in calculating and even labeling certain teams on the first run of this, totally my mistake
Here are the top 5 teams in Mississippi in returning state points:
Vancleave (1st in 2023 with 262.0 points - Possible Returning Points: 229.5)
As the state has begun to develop a few schools have stood out from the pack, one of those is the Vancleave Bulldogs. Dual runners up in 2023, the bulldogs finished as Mississippi’s top individual team led by 6 champions, 5 of which returning in 2024. Those being the brothers of Quinton and Braden Carrol (who won titles as 8th graders last season), Cole Daugherty, Maison Klest, and Jordon Sherrod. With all but 2 of their 14 state wrestlers returning it looks likely Vancleave will be deep into another title hunt.
Ocean Springs (2nd in 2023 with 192.0 points - Possible Returning Points: 176)
Last season Vancleave were runners up in dual meets, in a barn burner they were downed by Ocean Springs. This Ocean Springs team is loaded top to bottom, returning 5 champions and a bounty of other placers (all but 2 who graduated), the question is asked what would need to be done to catch Vancleave. If you can get similar production from your hitters like state champions Shanks, Taylor, Hall, Beeman and Schlosberg than all that would be necessary for another deep run is for guys like Thomas and Maciel to jump a few spots on the podium and/or good production from whoever replaces graduating seniors Driver and Thomas.
Lewisburg (3rd in 2023 with 190.0 points - Possible Returning Points: 157)
Sliding in third just behind Ocean Springs was the highest ranked team out of the Northern Section, Lewisburg who scored 190 points. Big contributions came from guys like Logan Bradley, Colten Parnell, and Robertson who all return for this season. The big question will be can they bring guys in to match the points scored by graduating seniors Dowell & Farewell? If they can do that, I would not be surprised to see Lewisburg back in the Top 5 and deep into another title hunt.
St. Martin (6th in 2023 with 165.0 points - Possible Returning Points: 143)
St. Martin had one of the youngest teams last season with 4 guys in middle school grades in their varsity lineup and only 1 graduating senior from last year (State runner up, Lane Hewett). That will lend very helpful in terms of building a sense of consistency with the core of their line up still in school for a couple more years. Assuming you get similar results from guys like Suddeth, Vaughn and Evans what will be desperately needed is getting a few more guys to the state meet to try to push them further up the table.
North Pontotoc (5th in 2023 with 166 points - Possible Returning Points: 139)
NP came in 5th in the final state results and that is where they slide in here, returning 139 points. Big help for North is returning their pair of state champions Landon Ward and Eli Carwlye, and their placers down low like the Hales, Gooch and Bates. Big point for them would be bringing 12 or more back to the state tournament and getting all of them either on the podium or at least winning matches on the backside. If they can make that happen, then I would not be anywhere near surprised to see NP back in the top 5 this season.