CASC wrestling season begins tonight with 3 Sallisaw men, Vian woman on roster
The Carl Albert State College wrestling season will begin this week. It will be the third season of existence for the Vikings and the second for the Lady Vikings.
POTEAU — The Carl Albert State College wrestling season will begin this week. It will be the third season of existence for the Vikings and the second for the Lady Vikings.
The season will begin tonight for the Vikings with a 7 p.m. road dual against NCAA Division I Arkansas-Little Rock.
Both teams then will be in a pair of road duals at 6 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men) Thursday against Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, followed by the one-day Simpson College Open at 9 a.m. Saturday in Indianola, Iowa.
The CASC Men’s Viking Open will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 11, followed the next day with the CASC Women’s Viking Open — both at CASC’s Mick Thompson Fieldhouse on the Poteau campus.
“We’re ready,” CASC wrestling coach Jake Lords said. “We’ve been practicing and beating each other up for about a month, so we’re ready to go beat some other people up. We’re looking forward to getting on the road and bonding — and have some experiences that will last a lifetime.”
The Vikings will have three former Sallisaw Black Diamonds on the roster, one of whom — 184-pounder Trey Hudgens — earned a starting spot at Wednesday night’s Black and Blue Dual at Mick Thompson Fieldhouse on the CASC Poteau campus.
“He was kind of in and out of the line-up last year at a couple of different weights,” Lords said about Hudgens. “He solidified himself as a starter at 184 (pounds during last Wednesday night’s Black and Blue Dual). We expect big things from him.”
Last year, Hudgens was 14-12 and spent time at both 197 and 285 pounds. He placed fifth in the Falcon Open.
The other two Sallisaw matmen are freshmen Gavin Throne and Ryan Bashant-Honeycutt, both of whom are heavyweights.
“They’re both heavyweights,” Lords said. “They’re great kids with great personalities. They offer a lot of flair to the team. They’re hard workers. Their fun leaders on campus.”
Bashant-Honeycutt was finished in the top six in the Class 4A State Tournament in February in his final season as a Black Diamond. He also was in the top six at freestyle state.
On the Lady Vikings side, they have one local — Vian freshman Taya Hunt, who will be at either 143 pounds or 155 once she finishes rehabilitating from her injury that will make her have to medical red-shirt this season.
“She’s coming off an ACL injury, and she’s rehabbing that,” Lords said. “We’ll probably red-shirt her this year. She’s a great young lady. She’s a hard worker. She’s got a bright future. I’m really excited about her.
CASC WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Nov. 1 CASC men at Arkansas-Little Rock, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 CASC women and men at Indian Hills Community College, at Ottumwa, Iowa, 6 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 CASC women and men at Simpson College Open, at Indianola, Iowa, 9 a.m.
Nov. 7 CASC women and men at University of the Ozarks, at Clarksville, Ark., 4 and 5 p.m.
Nov. 8 Ouachita Baptist at CASC men, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10 Schreiner University at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 CASC Men’s Viking Open, 9 a.m.
Nov. 12 CASC Women’s Viking Open
Nov. 15 CASC men at Labette Community College, at Parsons, Kan., 6 p.m.
Nov. 16 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at CASC men, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 CASC men at Lindenwold, Open, at St. Charles, Mo., 9 a.m.
Nov. 19 CASC women at Lindenwold, Open, at St. Charles, Mo., 9 a.m.
Dec. 2 CASC women and men at Doane Open, at Crete, Neb., 9 a.m.
Dec. 7 CASC men at Neosho Community College, at Chanute, Kan., 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 CASC women and men at Lyon College, at Batesville, Ark., 2 and 3 p.m.
Jan. 12-13 CASC men at NJCAA Mens Coaches Duals, at Miami, OK, 9 a.m.
Jan. 16 CASC women at Oklahoma City University, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 CASC men at Ouachita Baptist University, at Arkadelphia, Ark., 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 Wayland Baptist at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 University of the Ozarks at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 CASC men at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Open, 9 a.m.
Jan. 27 CASC women at NJCAA Women’s Coaches National Duals, at CASC’s Mick Thompson Fieldhouse in Poteau.
Feb. 3 CASC women at Grand View Open, at Des Moines, Iowa, 9 a.m.
Feb. 7 CASC women at Schreiner University, at Kerrville, Texas, 3 p.m.
Feb. 10 CASC men at South Central District/Regional Tournament, at Great Bend, Kan., 9 a.m.
March 1-2 CASC women and men at NJCAA National Championships, at Council Bluffs, Iowa
