LITTLE ROCK - In the midst of its inaugural season, head coach Neil Erisman continues to grow the Little Rock wrestling program. Joining the team in the 2020-21 season are nine newcomers from across the nation that will further shape what it means to be a Trojan: Gavin Carter (Topeka, Kansas), Alex Hernandez (San Diego, California), Josiah Hill (Bakersfield, California), Austin Keal (Shawnee, Kansas), Tanner Mendoza (Chandler, Arizona), Tyler Ross (Lawson, Missouri), Brooks Sarchaczyk (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), Josh Sarpy (Mansfiel, Louisiana), and Keegan Slyter (Olathe, Kansas).
Read more about the incoming class below:
Gavin Carter (Topeka, Kansas)
Carter is a familiar name at the 6A Kansas high school state championships, finishing third as a freshman, becoming a state champion at 195 as a sophomore, and placing second at 182 as a junior. He will likely be competing at 184 but could go up or down a weight class once in Little Rock.
Coach Erisman on Carter - "Simply put, Gavin is a stud. He competes and wins a lot. We are excited to get him here and get our hands on him."
Alex Hernandez (San Diego, California)
Most likely to be aiming to make a statement at 165 for the Trojans, Hernandez is a California high school state qualifier that looks to continue his progress throughout the past few years at the collegiate level.
Coach Erisman on Hernandez - "Alex comes from a great state and national powerhouse of a program. He loves to compete and has a desire to be great. We can't wait to get him to Little Rock."
Josiah Hill (Bakersfield, California)
A crucial addition to the heavyweight group for Little Rock, Hill is another California high school state qualifier, placing at 285. He has also shown his talents at the national level as a NHSCA Sophomore All-American.
Coach Erisman on Hill - "Big, strong, and athletic Josiah is going to be a great force at HWT for us. He has a great attitude and mentality. We can't wait to see what he does here for the Trojans."
Austin Keal (Shawnee, Kansas)Â
Likely to join the Trojans in the 157 weight class, Keal competes in high school at 132, finishing fourth at the 6A Kansas state championships this past spring as a junior. This was a large improvement from the year prior, when Keal competed at 113 as a state qualifier, proving his growth in not just size but also skill.
Coach Erisman on Keal - "Austin is a competitor I have known for a long time. We come from the same area and I have watched him grow up. He is a tough guy and has continued to improve every time I see him compete. He is going to be a great addition to our middleweights."
Tanner Mendoza (Chandler, Arizona)
An Arizona high school state champion as well as a NHSCA Junior National Champion in 2019 as a junior, Mendoza's presence will bring immediate experience to the 174 weight class for Little Rock.
Coach Erisman on Mendoza - "Tanner brings a great passion for wrestling. He loves wrestling and lives for it. As a Junior National champion, he will bring a great boost for our upper weights."
Tyler Ross (Lawson, Missouri)
Winning two Missouri high school state titles in as many years at 160 as a junior and 145 as a sophomore, including second-place finish as a freshman at 132, Ross may appear at either 157 or 165 for the Trojans next fall. Finishing 46-0 last year with 35 pins, he has the winning experience that will help his collegiate career.
Coach Erisman on Ross - "Tyler has a big body and we are anxious to see his development at the next level. He is a competitor and brings a great attitude. He is a great fit here at Little Rock."
Brooks Sacharczyk (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
Sacharczyk is another state finalist incoming for the Trojans, finishing second at the Tennessee high school state championships as a junior at 182. He also competed at Fargo in both styles at 195 this past summer. Sacharczyk could make an impact at either the 184 or 197 weight class once he arrives in Little Rock.
Coach Erisman on Sacharczyk - "Brooks is another big guy that will add some depth to our room real quick. We believe he can come in, grow fast, and quickly become a real threat."
Josh Sarpy (Mansfield, Louisiana)
Sarpy was a state champion at the Louisiana high school championships this past year as a junior, wrestling at 113 and finishing the season 39-5. This came as a huge victory for North Desoto High School, along with being their first wrestler to receive a Division I offer.
Coach Erisman on Sarpy - "Josh is a guy that has flown under the radar but we are really excited about. He is going to bring some depth to the team. With his skill we expect him to jump levels fast and compete for the starting spot at 125."
Keegan Slyter (Olathe, Kansas)
Yet another 6A Kansas high school state champion, Slyter won at 126 as a junior, won at 120 as a sophomore en route to a team title, and placed second at 106 as a freshman. Likely to join the Trojan ranks at 133, he finished his junior campaign with a 46-4 record. He also adds a NHSCA runner-up finish to his resume.
Coach Erisman on Slyter - "Keegan is an awesome guy that has competed and won at a high level. He will be a great addition to our program and we expect good things from him."
For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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