GENTRY — A new coach joins several other new faces on the Gentry wrestling team this season, but the Pioneers return three state champions.

First-year coach Beau Collins, who is originally from Prairie Grove, has not coached wrestling before but has some experience with the sport.

Collins said seniors Barney Cheney, Kolby Rankin and Tanner Coy, all past state champions, will playmajor roles for the Pioneers not only with their performance on the mat, but also as leaders.

“We expect them to be major leaders by the example they set and also helping to train those younger guys,” Collins said.

Cheney (37-15) won the 1A-5A state title at 135 pounds, while Coy won at 160. Rankin (37-6) finished second at 152, losing to fourtime state champion Tyler Binford of Central Arkansas Christian.

Rankin won a state title at 140 as a sophomore. Senior Steven Thao is also a returning state medalist, finishing fourth at 130.

“Kolby Rankin’s been wrestling since he was a little kid,” Collins said. “We’re glad to have those guys. The learning curve’s pretty steep for the younger guys. But our more experienced guys are showing there’s a certain level of expectation.”

Gentry won the 1A-5A state title two years ago and finished third last year. The team leaders make sure the younger wrestlers know aboutthe Pioneers’ success, Collins said.

“We’ve stressed to them coming in new that we expect the same level of work to keep that tradition going,” Collins said.

Collins said sophomore Alec Nelson and junior Clay Norman are two more with prior mat experience. Sophomore Holden Florer was also singled out as a newcomer showing promise, Collins said.

Collins said the Pioneers have more depth in the middle weights but are a little thin in the lighter weights.

Sports, Pages 9 on 11/23/2011