By: Ryan Duey
Two Junior Lions from Clay Center Community High School (CCCHS) were guests during the Lions Club’s weekly meeting on December 3rd. Alessia Carrales and Ellie Hedman spoke about their high school activities, current happenings at the high school, and their plans after graduation.
CCCHS Head Wrestling Coach Brandon Pigorsch was the guest speaker during the meeting. Pigorsch spoke about the upcoming season for the girls’ and boys’ wrestling teams. He said injuries have been a factor to start the year.
“We have some guys that are starting the season injured and so they’re going to be going through some healing process just to get them in the lineup, you know, staying healthy is going to be a big factor.”
Pigorsch said that one state wrestler from last year will be out this season due to an injury during the football season. Both the girls’ and boys’ squads will have a good number of younger wrestlers this year, and he expects them to grow throughout the year.
“If we can stay healthy I have no doubt that a lot of the wrestlers that we have are going to develop and get better throughout the season. And the ones that have had success in the past, I’m looking for those wrestlers to build off those successes they have and reach greater heights.”
One wrestler returning for her senior season is undefeated Gabi Koppes. Pigorsch praised what Koppes has done for girls wrestling in the community. He detailed Koppes’s accomplishments.
“Gabi Koppes is returning for her senior season. She’s 98-0 in high school and is a three-time state champion, so she’s looking to become the first four-time state wrestling champion from CCCHS, and potentially looking at being one of three wrestlers all time to be a four-time undefeated state wrestling champ in Kansas.”
The high school squads will kick off their 2024 season on Thursday, December 5th at home against the Chapman Irish.
