While the Mexico girls wrestling program has several new faces to the sport this season, it also has some good experience coming back.

Alexus Johns became the program’s first ever state finalist in the four years it has existed while Abby Bowen also returns as a state qualifier. There will be around 11 girls on the roster with a range of experience.

Head coach Tony Senor said his roster is “slim on the lighter weights” heading into the season. He said figuring out the lineup is still a process other than returners Lilly Debo at 100 or 105, Alyssa Knight at 130 or 135, Bowen at hopefully 140 and Johns at heavyweight, and then newcomer Marali Herrera at 135 or 140.

“The new girls are picking things up a lot quicker,” Senor said. “That’s what we hope to see: girls not spending a whole lot of time on fundamentals but moving forward into actual strategy in what to do in matches and what to do in certain situations.”

Senor said he is hoping to qualify at least three wrestlers again, including Johns and Bowen again that went last year along with the graduated Katie Bowen. He could see Johns winning state, or at least medaling, and Bowen earning her first medal.

“Before we get there, we need to do things right in practice, do things right at competition and see what we can do for that state title,” Senor said.

Sophia Morris is among the newcomers that stand out to Senor after coming to him in May, wrestling either 155 or 170 or potentially 190. He said Morris has the looks of an experienced wrestler despite being new like Heaven Seabolt and heavyweight Raygen Hoffman.

Matty Tolbert is not a new addition as she returned last season from injury and is the lone senior on the roster this season. Senor said Tolbert brings valuable leadership, whether or not she is a starter.

“I need leaders on my team to help guide girls and also help them with the brand new sport just to be more comfortable,” Senor said. “There’s a reason she is student council president.”

Leaders will come from additions to the coaching staff, Senor said, as Kaylynn Pehle was added as an assistant and Katie Bowen will devote some time that isn’t spent on the college mat with William Woods University in Fulton. Both girls were on the original team when the program started and earned accolades at every level.

Senor said Mexico will be at tough tournaments like the Battle on the Katy Trail and Wonder Woman yet again but will also face loaded fields at Versailles a few days before Thanksgiving. He said the Versailles tournament is looking like a “mini Class 1 state tournament” that will have three other state medalists from Johns’ bracket, including the state champion Annabelle Rowe, of Adrian. One of the three home events Mexico has scheduled included a dual against Brookfield, who Senor said is projected to be the state champion.

The Lady Bulldogs are a smaller team, but if at least a North Central Missouri Conference title isn’t in the future, Senor said he would several to earn first team or second team individual honors. Obviously, the biggest goal for his girls is to be all-district and qualify for state.

“Every day, every match, every practice, every tournament is a chance to learn and a chance to grow,” Senor said. “It’s not always going to the state tournament. It’s also growing the sport in Mexico.”