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ST. MARYS — With all the success put forth on the wrestling mat last season, St. Marys High School is planning for a repeat performance – especially with only one wrestler graduating.

“Normally we have a big group of seniors, but probably for the first time since I’ve been here we have a good mix throughout,” said St. Marys coach JD Smith, who enters his 13th season with the program. “We had a great year last year. We scored the most points we ever have at the LKC Meet and placed fifth, which is also our highest finish.”

St. Marys retained everyone who was scheduled to return, including state qualifiers Kyle Bullman, Ayden Powell and Kayden Lambert.

Gage Bullman, Kaige Winland, and Jeremiah DeMoss did not get out of a tough regional bracket, but managed to win more than 30 matches in their respective weight class. Smith hopes they can join the trip to Huntington and become a part of the state experience.

Also rated high on Smith’s list are Elijah Campbell, Shane Deweese and Dru Binegar.

“Kids want to be part of something – a special part of something good,” Smith said. “We remained injury-free pretty much all of last year and I can’t say that has happened two, three or even four years ago. I’ve had all kinds of crazy things happen in the past.”

Smith also alluded to last year’s quality showing at duals. He was especially proud of the program winning the Middle Island Creek Championship, which includes Tyler Consolidated, Doddridge County and Ritchie County in the field. Smith doesn’t see any reason why his wrestlers can’t repeat as champions again this season.

St. Marys’ roster sits in the mid-20s. The Blue Devils figure to fill all 14 weight classes.

Bella Allen and Paytyn Conley give the Blue Devils two quality wrestlers on the girls side. At the girls state tournament, both Allen and Conley advanced to the blood round after winning three matches in their bracket.

The first week of practice was unusual in regards to having a full allotment of wrestlers in the practice room. Typically, the Blue Devils would be preparing for a postseason football game.

Nevertheless, St. Marys wrestlers are hungry and ready to take the next step.

By design, the Blue Devils don’t get much of a breather in terms of high-profile programs throughout the regular season. Their schedule includes their own invitational which brings in more than 20 schools. They also host the LKC Meet for the first time since 2017.

“As a school, hosting the LKC is a good thing for our community,” Smith said.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The product on the floor will have a new identity, but St. Marys plans to enjoy the same type of success coach Fred King has produced during his first seasons with the Blue Devils.

Gone are Addie Davis and Callie Powell. Their senior class produced 75 wins, and three trips to the state tournaments. Now it’s Anna’s and Brynnley’s team – as in juniors Anna Bennett and Brynnley Bulluck who were chosen co-captains for the upcoming season.

“Callie was the one girl I looked up to – she was like my best friend,” said Bulluck, who was a member of the St. Marys volleyball team which advanced to the state tournament this past fall.

Bulluck figures her experience as president of the junior class will transition to the basketball court.

“When coach told us we were going to be captains, I knew I had to take on a big responsibility with the team,” said Bulluck, who averaged 14.9 points and 5.4 rebounds last season while shooting 76% from the free-throw line. “I’m on student council – other people might not agree with me and I can apply the same thing for basketball. I’ve learned not to argue with them – I take what they want into consideration and try to work it out.”

Bennett also has a rich pedigree from the fall athletic season as a member of the girls cross country team which won a state title.

“Even though Brynnley are captains, I don’t think of us as being their boss or whatever,” Bennett said. “We still think of everyone as our teammates like normal.”

As a sophomore, Bennett averaged 7.3 points and 8.4 rebounds while also shooting 76% from the line for a team which wrapped up a 20-5 season after advancing to the state tournament.

Brooklyn Davis is the only other junior on a roster which has no seniors but features four sophomores and six freshmen.

“We’re not quite sure about our identity yet — even though we are young, we are capable because everyone is one year older,” Bennett said.

Bulluck can play both the interior and along the perimeter and bring the ball up the court. Bennett’s defensive prowess continued to evolve and figures to increase her production on the offensive end.

“Brynnley can handle the ball, get downhill in a hurry and doesn’t give in until she is successful,” coach King said. “Brynnley has become a terrific outside shooter and rebounder in the offseason as well.

“From day one last season to now, Anna has really improved her overall game. She was our defensive firewall, so to speak. This season, she will be counted on being a contributing factor on the offensive end as well.”

Also returning from last year’s starting rotation are sophomores Laney Watkins and Landrey Riggs. Watkins qualified in several individual events at the state track meet last spring. In her first high school season on the basketball court, she went from being a junior varsity starter to a varsity sub to eventually a varsity starter where she averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds.

“With all the intangibles, Laney was able to play all five positions, which made it a matchup nightmare for opponents,” King said.

As for Riggs, she was the ultimate “sixth man” as a freshman. A softball player in the spring, Riggs is projected starter when the seasons commences.

“Landrey’s shooting skills are remarkable, especially from the 3-point arc,” King said. “She can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket as well.”

Rylee Renner and Lana Gilfillan round out the sophomore class. Freshmen Lainey Deweese, Lauren Pritchett, Maddie Lambert and Kinley Thomas have travel ball experience and will provide depth for the Blue Devils.

“Lauren, Lainey and Maddie are coming off a tremendous volleyball season,” King said. “The freshmen bring a wealth of basketball talent, experience and basketball IQ to the team.”

With players concentrating on their other athletic endeavors prior to start of basketball practice, the bulk of their attention on the upcoming season was done in the summer. The coaching staff let their girls be student-athletes in the fall and enjoy the sport at hand.

“A parent told me how wonderful it is that I enable these kids’ schedule so they can do softball, volleyball or cross country,” King said. “I feel great about this team – I like what I’ve seen so far. There’s a culture that has already been established here. Since back in the 1980s, they were a big deal. They’ve had three state championships, but there hasn’t been one in 35 years, so these kids are after one.”

Across the board, St. Marys High School sports are classified in single-A.

The basketball team still competes with their share of Class AA schools on their side of the Little Kanawha Conference.

In addition, the Blue Devils will have a target on their back throughout the state from Class A peers.

“I think we have to work harder this year because of that target on our back,” King said. “People know we are coming from double-A and were dog gone good, so we are going to give it to St. Marys. We are going to get everybody’s best shot.”

BOYS BASKETBALL

For the first time in his three seasons as the head coach of boys basketball at St. Marys High School, Larry Johnson is blessed with players who provide length with their height.

Conceivably, he could field a starting lineup of five guys 6-foot and taller. The Blue Devils won’t be at a disadvantage on the boards this season.

With that said, the identity of the program doesn’t change. Defense remains the staple of St. Marys boys basketball.

“Defense has been our identity since I’ve been here – it’s always been this way,” said Johnson, who has spent a combined 21 seasons as either an assistant or head coach at St. Marys. “We have to play fast. We have to play physical. We have to get up in people and create turnovers. We use our defense to create our offense. It’s going to be a defensive war, a defensive mindset.

“We may not have the personnel that plays 92 feet the whole time, but I also think we have enough guards that we can switch it up and do that at times.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com