The JV and Varsity wrestlers had their season opener against the Hutchinson Salthawks on November 29 in Ravenscroft gym. Varsity won, 33-40. To start off the meet, Newton automatically got 12 points because Hutchinson did not fill up their bottom two weight classes.

“I saw a lot of guys fight really hard,” sophomore Aiden Kendall said. “Everyone is fighting together to become better as a team and everyone just keeps building on each other and getting better and better.”

Since this was the first meet of the season, the team saw there was a lot of room for improvement.

“We could have done a lot better but a win is a win,” junior Sawyer Mock said.

This was the first season opener without coach JJ Thaw. Thaw unexpectedly passed away last year.

“I was only around JJ for a year so i didnt know him that well,” Sophomore Tjaden simmons said. “Edgeman always gave him the right seat because JJ always did his lean over when he’s trying to tell you what to do in a match. You’d look up and he’d say ‘get in there’ so it was a little different without him.”

The railers traveled to Valley center on Saturday Dec. 1 and took second as a team. They will face the Salina Central Mustangs on Dec 6 in Salina.