For any high school wrestling program to be either competitive or good, they junior high and little kids programs need to have good numbers. Knoxville High School Coach Doug Hatch tells KRLS Sports the middle school and little kids programs at Knoxville are growing and sending solid wrestlers his way…

Hatch:
“Our junior high coaches Mr. Rider and Mr. Spaur and our kids coach has a great thing going. We have another mini 10 maybe 15 kids coming in as freshmen and they’re just solid, and our freshmen are going to be great leaders of this group.”

The Panthers were young at several weight classes this season and Hatch hopes the guys that were freshman this season will take the leadership role left by the departing seniors.