Motivated best describes this year’s Gilbert High School wrestling team.
A year after claiming the school’s 1st Class 3A Lower State title, the Indians have set their goal to win the state title. 
Despite a number of wrestlers transitioning from football, the team has performed well in recent tournaments. They won the Palmetto State Classic Wrestling Tournament at Irmo High and placed in the Top 4 at the White Knoll Duals. 
As the season progresses, coach Mitch Hudson is confident of improvement.
“Anytime a team accomplishes what we did last year there is going to be some growth to learn that some of the people who we depended on are no longer with us. Now the burden of leadership rests on some new wrestlers,” he said. 
The team returns starters Blake Wise, Grayson Keisler, Carson Harmon and Dakota Price as well as tough grapplers such as Neil Bastian, Will Stroud and Jaden Jenkins. 
Leaders like Barrett Croutt, who recently claimed his 100th career win, and his brother Brennen is important.
Some of the aspiring younger wrestlers are Jackson Caulder, Whit Rucker, Harley Boatwright, C.J. Meetze and Bryce Smith.
According to Coach Hudson, it helps that they’re are pushed by seniors Osvaldo Guijosa, Ismael Guijosa, Kyle Decker, Joshua Coleman, Tony Price and Will Harmon.
“As a team, we lack some mat time and we will gain that in December and use that mat time to take us into January,” Hudson said. 
“We will be gaining experience all season long. The way our season is set up, the most important part of our season is late January, so we are building to peak at the right time of year.” 
Gilbert took part in meets at Woodruff and North Augusta over the Christmas break. It’s slated to have a tri-match in January with Academic Magnet and May River, one of the teams the Indians will have to contend with to repeat as Lower State champion.

S.C. WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION TOP 20 RANKINGS
CLASS 5A
1. Hillcrest, 2. J.F. Byrnes, 3. Chapin, 4. River Bluff, 5. Lugoff-Elgin, 6. White Knoll, 7. Rock Hill, 8. Summerville, 9. Fort Dorchester, 10. Fort Mill, 11. Lexington, 12. Cane Bay,13. Ashley Ridge, 14. Carolina Forest, 15. J.L. Mann, 16. Boiling Springs, 17. Easley, 18. Stratford, 19. Greenwood, 20. Mauldin

CLASS 4A 
1. Eastside, 2. South Pointe,  3. Travelers Rest, 4. North Myrtle Beach, 5. South Aiken, 6. Belton-Honea Path, 7. York, 8. Hartsville, 9. Dreher, 10. Beaufort, 11. Greer, 12. Pickens, 13. Midland Valley, 14. Hilton Head, 15. Colleton County, 16. Airport, 17. Blue Ridge, 18. Lancaster, 19. Walhalla, 20. Westwood

CLASS 3A
1. Indian Land, 2. West Oak, 3. May River, 4. Crescent, 5. Chester, 6. Union County, 7. Powdersville, 8. Gilbert, 9. Chesnee, 10. Broome, 11. Battery Creek, 12. Woodruff, 13. Swansea, 14. Liberty, 15. Camden, 16. Emerald, 17. Pelion, 18. Chapman, 19. Waccamaw, 20. Aynor