After last season’s dominant performances, two boys wrestlers are starting the season with national rankings  from Sports Illustrated — senior David Gleason and junior Miller Sipes.

At the end of the 2024 wrestling season, the boys wrestling team produced seven top 10 wrestlers in the state, according to FloWrestling’s end of season rankings. The team also included three first-team wrestlers in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Silver Division, as well as three second team wrestlers and 11 honorable mentions. Nine wrestlers traveled to the state championship where seven placed, including a State Championship win from senior David Gleason in the 144-pound weight class. The team placed third out of 56 total teams in the state. 

“Whenever I was about 4 years old, my dad would coach in Staley’s wrestling room, and I would come in and watch him and play around,” Gleason said. 

After three years of wrestling for the school, Gleason committed to the University of Missouri to extend his career after high school graduation. With a state championship win last season, a 32-4 record and a series of accolades in the offseason, he planned to push himself further, as well as his teammates. 

“I expect them to fully exhaust themselves for a cause greater than themselves,” Gleason said 

Junior Miller Sipes is also looking to extend a streak of wins, coming off a Fargo National Championship win in the 16U Greco-Roman at 138 pounds, also placing second at state with a 35-8 record as a sophomore. Sipes also earned the Fargo All American title. 

“I’m hoping to work hard and improve and hopefully cap the year off with a state championship and even more, a team state championship,” Sipes said.

Sipes worked to improve in the offseason, being a multi-sport athlete with football and wrestling.

“I’ve been hitting the weight room a lot recently, so the strength part will help a lot, going up a couple wight classes,” Sipes said. “I really think my offseason work will help me improve and hopefully have a good season.”

Sipes is currently an honorable mention for the 138-pound weight class in the Sports Illustrated High School Wrestling preseason national rankings, along with Gleason who is ranked No. 13 in the 150-pound weight class. 

Sipes and Gleason both represent a dominant wrestling program with multiple wrestlers coming off state qualifications who look to win it all this season, however with 17 GKCSC Silver Division recognitions, multiple upcoming wrestlers have an opportunity to establish themselves this season, with seven previous juniors (Gunner Dahms, Parker Leverknight, Zayne Reynolds, David Gleason, Merrik Murray, Sage Wilson, Kamaha’o Grace) and one previous sophomore (Miller Sipes) making the state tournament.

Correction: Gunner Dahms and Zayne Reynolds names were misspelled and have been corrected.