HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Hawk wrestlers in hunt for more

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By Riley Cole, West Delaware seniorMANCHESTER - Following last year's state championship success, the West Delaware wrestling team is looking to repeat that title, along with a dual team championship.The Hawks return seven from last year's varsity lineup, including two state placewinners. One of those is last year's 106-pound Class 2A state champion, Patrick Woods, a senior who will wrestle at 113 this season.The Hawks, 2013 traditional state champions and 2013 state duals runner-Up, are looking to head back to Des Moines in February.“We are working really hard,” senior Sam Phillips said. “We are one of the hardest working teams in the state. You can tell that because we're in better shape than anyone else.”This year's team, led by 13 seniors, includes some who are getting their first chance to wrestle in the varsity lineup.“There is a lot of leadership on the team,” Woods said. “A lot of them get their first shot at being on varsity. It'll just be what they make out of it.”With a new season, the goal of state champions is well within reach.“We will just do what we do every year,” Phillips said. “We are going to try and improve each week. We haven't won anything this year. No one else has either.”West Delaware hosts the Bob Murphy Invitational on Saturday with a new round robin format.As both Woods and Phillips set goals for the season, one is similar for both. A state championship. Woods would like to bring home three state titles - duals, traditional and individual.“I'm just going to try and do the same thing,” Woods said. “Keep working hard in practices and keep my weight down. Its helped so far.”