Special report

Trenton’s girls wrestling program didn’t just grow this year, it nearly tripled.

The Bulldogs expect to open the season with 16 wrestlers, said Chris Wever, Trenton High School athletics director.

“Girls wrestling will have 16 athletes start the season, up from six last year,” Wever told the Trenton Telegraph.

That growth comes as girls wrestling continues to take hold across Missouri. The Missouri State High School Activities Association crowned its first official girls wrestling state champions in 2019, and the sport has spread to schools statewide since.

A veteran core

Trenton’s roster starts with a strong returning core. Five of last year’s six wrestlers are back: seniors Sarai Birkhead and Kendall Foust and juniors Timber Hignutt, Emma Lowrey and Trinety Fults.

All five have district tournament experience and they’re chasing a trip to state this season, Wever said.

Behind them comes a wave of new talent, led by a freshman who already owns a state title.

“We have a very large freshman class, led by Ally Miller, who was a Missouri 14U state champion earlier this spring,” Wever said. “We also have some others that are highly experienced. A few sophomores that are out for their first year round out the team.”

Miller’s 14U title came down to the final seconds.

Wrestling for the Trenton Kids Wrestling Club, she won the 14U 105-pound girls bracket at the Missouri USA Wrestling State Folkstyle Championships on March 15 at Wilson Logistics Arena in Springfield, the Telegraph reported in March.

She pinned her first two opponents to reach the final. There, she trailed Lynkin Carter of Honey Badger Wrestling 4-3 late in the third period before scoring a reversal with four seconds left to win the championship.

Miller finished the tournament 3-0. She was one of 14 Trenton Kids Wrestling Club wrestlers to qualify for the youth state meet, a sign of the pipeline now feeding the high school program.

Coaching staff & opener

Head coach Chuck Rossol leads the high school girls’ program, according to the Grand River Conference’s Trenton directory. Charlie Bacon, Dan Dunkin and Joe Rongey will assist, Wever said.

Fans won’t have to travel far to see the expanded roster in action.

“Our first competition action of the year is at home, has us hosting Kirksville and Palmyra,” Wever said.

That home opener is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.