Junior Corey Peterson walks into the wrestling room with his eyes focusing on one thing. 1st
Place. He does not want to be a state runner-up; he wants to be a state champion.
Peterson placed 2nd at state in the 160lb weight class and finished with a
record of 42-6. Peterson also won the preseason nationals. Though being the first state finalist in 13 years, Peterson was unsatisfied with his season.

“My expectations for myself is to go out there and dominate every kid I wrestle in the state of
Missouri,” Peterson said. “I expect to be an undefeated state champ and I wouldn’t accept
anything less.”

Dr. Aedryan Cox is the new wrestling coach and has more on his mind than winning.
“One of the things we have been talking about a lot is competing, The nature of competition,”
Cox said. “Winning is the goal, but I want our guys to go out there and compete.”
The team finished 9-4 last year, and hopes to improve this year. Cox also wants to
help improve his team off the mat.

“If you can make it through a wrestling season, you can make it through anything,” Cox said. “
So things like being able to persevere through adversity, being able to work when no one else is
willing to work.”

Coach Cox has been working with Peterson and the team all summer. Peterson is the first one at practice and the last one to leave. Peterson not only pushes himself during practice, but he pushes his team.

“I want to build relationships with all of my teammates and my coaches. I want to help my team get better and show them that hard work pays off,” Peterson said. “I want to grow into a man for and with others by sharing my time to make them better. I want to get tougher physically and mentally so I can use it on the mat and later in life.”