The River Bluff wrestling team has had a track record of success the past 3 seasons.
Along with a Class 5A title in 2017 and state runner-up last year, the Gators have claimed 3 straight region titles, 2 Lower State titles and a Lower State runner up.
In addition, wrestlers Sam Emery and William Butler have claimed individual state titles.
This season, River Bluff appears poised yet again for a run at the title going entering the meat of its Region 5-5A schedule. 
Head coach Evan Moxie has built the team through preparation that starts in the offseason and non-region scheduling that gets them ready for the big matches.
“I do my best to create a schedule that will challenge our wrestlers,” said Moxie of the combination of individual matches, duals, and tournaments that make up the early part of the season. “It’s so that when we get into our region we are well accustomed to being in tough matches and we know how to react.”
The Gators did well in those December matches, winning a tri-match over South Pointe and Hammond, notching a 1st place finish in the Crescent Duals, 3rd in the Wildcat Duals and second at the Blue Devil Duals. Those showings were good enough to rank River Bluff 2nd in the www.scmat.com Class 5A rankings.
For the Jan. 15 region opener, River Bluff crushed Dutch Fork 72-9. Moxie again pointed to preparation and a team approach as major factors in the team’s success.
“The most important part for us is accountability,” He said. “Whether it is the summer lifts, or daily practice, the kids know that for us to reach our goals everyone has to be there and give one hundred percent, every day.”
The Gators are led by captains John Zahm (126), Emery (145) and Ian Obeso in the heavyweight class.
“They not only put points on the board every match, but they do a great job of leading by example and showing our younger wrestlers the work ethic it takes to be great,” he said. 
For Moxie, it’s all about looking at 1 match at a time once the season starts.
“We look at all of our region matches the same,” he said. “Another huge match on our road to a region championship. We talk about winning a lot, and not taking one match more seriously than another—at this point every match is crucial to our success so we prepare for them as such.”
The Gators’ winning wrestling tradition has created growing excitement for the program, Moxie said.
“We get great support from our school and the community,” He said. “We would love to see even more people in the stands during our home matches, but the support we’re already getting is tremendously appreciated.”’
The Gators will have 2 critical region matches to close out January. It will invite region co-leader White Knoll to The Swamp on Jan. 29 at 6:30 pm and face archrival Lexington 2 nights later. White Knoll were host to Chapin Wednesday in Region 5-5A action.