By Lee Davis
Most high school freshmen spend much of the school year finding their way through the hallways and counting the days until they get their learner’s driving permit.
That’s not the case for Spain Park wrestlers Jack Rivers and Gavin Pudlick.
As freshmen, Rivers and Pudlick already are the leaders of a young Jaguar team composed of only underclassmen.
Through the end of last week, Rivers – who wrestles at 106 pounds – had compiled a 19-7 varsity record, earning 211.50 points for his team. He won his weight class title at the Huntsville Invitational and the Alexandria Valley Club Tournament. He also earned three pins, a tech fall and a decision on the way to a third-place finish in the Mountain Brook Spartan Invitational Tournament. Rivers is also undefeated at the junior varsity level, claiming his weight class crown in the Hewitt-Trussville Blalock event.
Pudlick is equally impressive. Weighing 113 pounds, he is 13-7 in varsity competition and 2-0 in junior varsity action, winning his division at the Blalock Tournament. Pudlick also claimed a pin and two decisions in the 120-pound class in the Mountain Brook Invitational.
The pair also showed their abilities in the prestigious Hoover Scott Rohrer Tournament last weekend, which features top teams from the entire state. Rivers and Pudlick were the only Jaguars that medaled, earning sixth and fourth in their respective weight classes. Pudlick earned 76 team points and Rivers added 68.
While Rivers and Pudlick are freshmen, they are hardly strangers to Spain Park wrestling.
“Two years ago, we began to integrate the (Berry) middle school into the program,” said Jaguar coach Ryan Thompson. “So although it’s Jack and Gavin’s first year as varsity wrestlers, it’s really their third year to wrestle with us.”
Not only are there no seniors on Spain Park’s team, but the entire roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores.
“We obviously have a very young team and they are progressing well,” Thompson said. “Jack and Gavin have been our most successful wrestlers so far, earning the most placements.”
Thompson also likes their leadership skills. “Both Jack and Gavin show a genuine love for the sport,” he said. “They come to practice every day with a great attitude and are looked up to as leaders by their peers.”
Rivers entered wrestling almost as a reluctant warrior. “I started in seventh grade after I didn’t make the soccer team,” he recalled. “My dad suggested I try wrestling. At first I didn’t want to go, but went anyway. Then I started wrestling year-round and loved it.”
Rivers isn’t shy about his goal for the season. “I want to win the state championship,” he said. “Anytime I win, it’s special so I don’t really have a highlight so far. But winning the state would be the best.”
Participating on a team without juniors and seniors is unusual, but Rivers said he and his teammates take it in stride. “It’s kind of weird,” he said. “Most teams have older guys to lean on for leadership. We don’t have that, and it makes things different. But we’re doing OK.”
Pudlick began wrestling as an elementary school student growing up in Ohio and fell in love with the sport immediately.
“There is more participation in wrestling up there than here, but the quality is good in both places,” he said. “We moved down here when my family got relocated for a job and I picked up right where I left off.”
Pudlick said his goals for the season couldn’t necessarily be measured by trophies and victories.
“The main thing is to just work hard and get better,” he said. “I want to be the best wrestler I can every time I get on the mat. If I do that, it will be a good season.
Pudlick also said it was a rare experience not to have juniors or seniors as teammates, but the team was adapting.
“It’s been kind of rough not having them (upperclassmen) to look up to, so we just depend on each other,” he said. “It’s working out fine.”
Other key wrestlers for Spain Park include freshmen Harry Shaull, Cameron Young, Caelan March, Jake Harrison, Ashton Nichols, Jacob Sharpe and sophomore Emmanuel Thuo.
The Jaguars are young and, as the saying goes, they are definitely getting better.
