Evey updates Lions on KHS wrestling program

Kingfisher High School wrestling coach Ed Evey told Kingfisher Lions Club members that he was encouraged by the high number of younger kids involved in the program, and he and coaches Fay Barnett and Stan Blundell felt the chances were very good to place at least four varsity wrestlers in the state tournament this year.

“We feel we have some very solid wrestlers overall, and we’re really strong in the lower weight classes,” Evey said. “We just don’t have any kids this year that fit in a couple of bigger weights, so we have two empty slots.”

Speaking at the club’s luncheon last Thursday, Evey said Kingfisher hosts five six-mat wrestling tournaments a year.

He said he and the other coaches are always interested in the grade school tournament, for two reasons.

“We like to see what young kids we have coming up and we also like to see if their moms and dads are in attendance, or if they’re just there basically on their own,” Evey said. “That way we know which kids we need to see if we can help out a little more.

“Those kids need to know that someone is available to encourage them, and also to help them to get involved and compete. Over the years, I’ve found out that can make a positive difference in their lives.”

Evey had high praise for the high school girls who assist with the tournaments Kingfisher hosts each year.

“That’s an unusual thing. We all sort of trained a group of volunteer girls many years ago to help run the tournament in regards to registration and running the tables for each mat,” he said.

“It’s just been a self-sustaining deal. That says something about the caliber of kids we have in our school system. Those girls over the years have taken ownership of it and the older girls recruit and train the younger girls each year and they do a great job. Our referees have high praise for them because they pay attention and get it all right most of the time,” he added.

Evey said girls who have already graduated will often come back and continue to help.

“I think we have eight grads helping at one tournament,” he said. “That’s amazing to me and we really appreciate those girls. Always have.”

He said this year’s team only has two seniors: Stone Snodgrass and Owen Vincent.

“We have great leadership from our seniors and overall we have a great group of kids,” said Evey, who is in his 38th year as a full-time teacher and coach with Kingfisher Public Schools.

“We encourage you to come out and see them compete. They represent us well.”