Richard Smith West Valley Preps Two years ago the Liberty wrestling program used a special mix of seniors and sophomores to win its first state championship. Now those sophomores are seniors, and the current sophomores are stepping up to create a deep roster capable of claiming a second crown. Seniors Miles Nuessle and James Deitz are two-time state champions and the marquee names. But even without a third standout senior, the Lions are in good shape heading into the Division II state tournament, which starts Thursday in Prescott Valley, thanks to underclassmen. “Our sophomores have really stepped up. That’s where our depth comes from. They were a very athletic group last year and it’s kind of transitioned into our summer program and into our season,” Liberty wrestling coach Eric Brenton said. “They see an opportunity because we are deep. Our JV team is tough. A lot of these guys are battling day-in and day-out for each position. The guys that recognized that early put in a lot of work in the offseason.” They are deep enough to contend without a national champion in senior Atilano Escobar. The Navy-bound 138 pounder decided to focus on his national team aspirations. But Liberty wrestling still has a good chance to be on the podium in that weight class thanks to the ability of freshman Collin McCorkle. If that’s not enough, the backup at 138 is a regular All American girls wrestler in Brooke Logan, who is skilled enough to mix it up with the fellas. “She would probably start on the majority of the varsity teams in the state. She’s a seven-time all American. But she runs our room. When it’s 4:15 and practice starts, she warms it up and calls everything, everybody responds,” Brenton said. She and other team leaders have improved the camaraderie in the Lions wrestling room this year. Brenton said the leadership core of last year’s team — which placed third in Division II — meant well but was young. This year, the kids wrestle for each other. He said a recent match with Centennial, which ended with five Liberty pins gave him goose bumps. “We’re more of a family this year. We’re taking our younger guys under our wing and not excluding anyone,” Logan said. Liberty's Brooke Logan, left, drills with teammate Janes Deitz during practice Jan. 30 at Liberty High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Seniors have stepped up on the mat, too. Adriane Kedekein is a contender at 170 pounds after placing sixth last year. “Last year was more about individuals. We went to a camp in Colorado and that’s where the team started bonding more,” Kedekein said. And heavyweight Nataani Visser, who has never been a varsity starter before, improved to a likely top five finisher in Division II. “This is the first year he started for varsity football and the same with us. But he’s taken advantage of it. He had a great offseason up in Colorado, making the all star match in a really tough camp,” Brenton said. Visser also carried a goal over from football — beating Centennial. The teams split on the field, with the Coyotes winning the playoff game. So he was thrilled to see the wrestlers score a convincing 58-12 win over Centennial to lift another Peoria Unified School District crown. “Centennial was our rival in football and I have a personal thing against them, so that was one of my highlights, beating Centennial,” Visser said. Logan said her highlight was a couple weeks earlier at rival Sunrise Mountain, where the Lions took no prisoners, winning 61-18. “In past years it’s been right on the borderline. This year, we destroyed them,” she said. In almost every class from 138 to Heavyweight — with the exception of 220 pounds — the Lions are in good shape to have a wrestler place in the top six. Sophomores Kamryn Stonebraker (145 pounds) and Matthew Stevenson (152 pounds) lead the way. Stevenson transferred from Phoenix Thunderbird. Stonebraker won the Peoria Invitational and Stevenson placed third. Junior Kirby Hansen grew into a contender at 182 pounds after waiting behind Deitz in the middleweight classes. “Kirby Hansen has been behind Dietz for two years. I think people knew about him but I don’t think they really recognized how good he was,” Brenton said. “He put on 30 pounds this year, lifting every single day with me and the other coaches. He really made it a point that he wanted to grow and put on a lot of muscle mass. We knew all along what he was capable of. He’s got nine losses this season and five are to out of state opponents.” Hansen placed third at Peoria, Kedekein finished fifth and Deitz and Nuessle added to their first place trophy collections. Liberty wrestling placed second at the multistate event behind 6A favorite Tucson Sunnyside. At all levels, and in nearly every weight class, there is the sense that the Lions have improved. “I feel pretty good. We’ve all made that dedication — on weekends, getting up at 5 a.m.,” Kedekein said. Defending Division II champion Marana Mountain View placed fourth at Peoria, and will be a prime contender this year, as the state field will be a bit less crowded. The Mountain Lions and Lions will not go head-to-head much at state as Mountain View’s strength is in the smaller weight classes. Queen Creek, runner up in 2017, figures to make it a three-team race again. The Bulldogs have more potential for showdowns with the Lions as both teams, generally, have their best wrestlers in the same classes. Liberty and Queen Creek faced off in a dual meet, but Brenton said neither team wrestled its best lineup. “I feel pretty good going into sectionals and state. I believe we have a state winning team at Liberty. We have a bunch of state placers on this team already, and I think we have a good chance of winning sectionals and state,” Visser said. Brenton and his wrestlers also mentioned Gilbert Campo Verde, Vail Cienega and Gilbert Williams Field as teams that will have a say in 5A. But around the wrestling room there is a desire and belief that Liberty will return to the top. Brenton said sectional results will be key to set up for the top teams. Following trips to big tournaments in Nevada, Oklahoma and California, preparation will not be a problem. “It’s one of our goals we repeat every single year. Once you’ve accomplished that, it’s a huge goal. Everything else, it’s not that same feeling,” Brenton said. “I think we have a great support system. We’re able to reload and the coaching staff is one of the best. Our parents and administration support us in whatever we do. Not many administrations say, ‘Yeah, you can go to Oklahoma,’” Liberty wrestling senior
Nataani Visser works out with a teammate during practice Jan. 30 in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]