Dexter senior Ryan Young leads young Bearcats through duel gaunlet

While most area teams spend much of the first month of the season traveling to compete in tournaments, the Dexter Bearcats are spending it taking on SEMO Conference opponents in duel meets.

The Bearcats went 0-2 against DeSoto and Sikeston at their home opener on Nov. 28, split the tri-meet with Kennett at New Madrid, and won both matches at Notre Dame with Herculaneum.

One of the top performers so far this season for Dexter is senior Ryan Young, who is normally a late bloomer each season but is actually starting the season strong.

"I usually start out a little slow and then towards the end of the season, I start to gain [my confidence] back," Young said.

Young practiced with Eric Harmon, who now wrestles in college, last year, and were both among the five Bearcats who competed in the Class 2 state tournament. Now as a senior, it's up to him to lead the young team, and it's a role he revels in.

"It's pretty fun getting to be a leader and show example for younger underclassmen," Young said.

Young finished 23-17 last season. With a win over Notre Dame's Parker Lemons on Thursday and over Kennett's James Shields on Tuesday, Young is on his way to another 20+ win season and another state appearance, in which he said he is confident in accomplishing the goal.

"I feel like I got some work to do," Young said, "but I feel like I improved. I got stronger. I'm trying to work on my neutral. I feel like my neutral has gotten pretty good, like taking shots more aggressively."

The Bearcats have a big week ahead of them, as they travel to Jackson on Dec. 13 for the Jackson Five Team Scramble, then finish the week at the Tiger Classic hosted by Cape Central on Dec. 15-16 at Terry Kitchens Junior High School.