BRODHEAD — With three sectional-qualifying wrestlers returning, Brodhead-Juda is poised to have a successful season. The Cardinals will use this experience and game knowledge to edge their opponents.

“We have a lot of kids with plenty of wrestling backgrounds,” head coach Chris Hoesly said. “We just have to use it wisely and not put ourselves in bad positions.”

Marcus McIntyre, a conference champion, was the lone Cardinal to make it to state. Joe Lohmar, the second conference champion for Brodhead-Juda, made it to sectionals along with Emmitt Allen. 

The three are part of an eight-man upper class including Karson Miller, CJ Struely, Charlie Weiss, Landon King and Isiah Bishop.

Although the team has experience, Hoesly is worried how empty weight classes will affect the team’s overall results.

“It’s the same challenge every year with filling all the weight classes and being competitive with every one,” Hoesly said. “We need to be smart wrestlers going after bonus points when we need them and stop depending on a few kids to carry us. We will need to be on top of our game every night with having to forfeit some classes to stay competitive and to keep it close.”

In conference, the Cardinals will be tested by Evansville and Whitewater.

“They [Evansville] always seem to have some studs and kids who complement each other very well and are there to pick each other up on off nights,” Hoesly said. “They are able to fill every weight class. Whitewater could give them a run. They also have the numbers, but we will see how they match up.”