Rotary Hears From Winter Sports Coaches

Trenton High School winter sports coaches presented the program at Thursday’s meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club.
Jeremy Austin, Charlie Bacon and Brian Upton talked about their respective teams, which are currently practicing for the upcoming season. Austin, who is the boys basketball coach, said there are 27 out for the team with 12 making up the varsity squad. With the loss of several seniors from last year, Austin said this year’s team will be young, but has a lot of talent that should show improvement as the year goes on. The team begins play on Friday, Nov. 21 at Cameron in the Boys Basketball Jamboree, with the first regular season varsity game on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at East Buchanan. The JV and 9th grade teams will play on Monday, Nov. 24 against Cameron at Trenton.
Bacon, who is the wrestling coach, has 23 out for the team, including five who qualified last year for the state tournament. He anticipates being able to fill all 14 weight classes. As a team, Trenton should show much improvement. The team is involved in nine dual matches, including four at home, as well as six tournaments. Because of dwindling numbers, there will be no Trenton Wrestling Tournament this year, with the team, instead, participating in the Plattsburg Tournament. The first team matches are on Dec. 4, with Trenton taking on Cameron and Mid-Buchanan at Trenton.
Upton, who is the girls coach, has 15 players out for the team, which this year will play only a varsity and a JV schedule. He will have nine players on the varsity team, including the only senior, three juniors and five sophomores. While the team will be young, Upton said the players possess a lot of natural talent and will need to take advantage of “what they are good at” and “work on what needs improvement” to have a successful season. He anticipates his starting five to be made up of one senior, two juniors and two sophomores. The team begins play on Friday, Nov. 21 with the Girls Basketball Jamboree at Trenton High School. The first varsity games will be in East Buchanan with the boys’ teams on Nov. 25.
During the business meeting, President Sarah Maloney reported that seven Rotarians and two guests attended the District Leadership Conference Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Kansas City. Trenton received three awards, including the President’s Citation, the Membership Award and a Star Club certificate.
Next week’s program chairman is Elizabeth Gibson.