There has been adversity, and there is still potential. There has been a lot of the former and there is a lot of the latter for Cathedral High School wrestling in 2024-2025, with a perennial state power building and preparing for the postseason. This is a proud program, one that will fight once again. “For us to be competitive with our schedule, it's going to be a team effort,” Irish wrestling coach Sean McGinley said. The Irish, winners of four Indiana High School Athletic Association state titles since 2014, finished ninth in the state in 2024 and enter the 2024-2025 season with a capable team that is strong and experienced in spots, particularly in the lower weight classes. It’s a team that will grow and develop throughout the season, with the Irish once again competing against one of the state of Indiana’s toughest schedules. “We’re pretty decent down low [in weight classes],” McGinley said. “Then it gets to where we have a lot of first-year guys in the middle, then there’s still question marks at the top end. We're going to need to lean on those guys that have been around there for while to get us through this tough schedule. “Wrestling is a beast in terms of weight. You never know how people are going to come in in terms of weight. You plan on certain weights, but it doesn't always work out that way. In the lower weights, we're able to get guys where we wanted them, and where we think they'll have success. “In the upper weights, we’re just kind of piecing it together right now.” The Irish, who were also dealing with multiple injuries in December – including one to senior Owen Reyes – in 2024-2025 indeed likely will be keyed by: *Nathan Reyes, 113 pounds. He qualified for the state tournament at 113 pounds in 2024 and ranked No. 7 in Indiana by Indianamat.com at 113 in mid-December. “He’s been a big part of the program and is just a great leader,” McGinley said. “We think he's in the right weight class where he could really make some noise this year. We hope to get him on the podium [at the state tournament] and relatively high.” *John Bissmeyer, 120 pounds, senior. He qualified for the state tournament at 106 pounds in 2024 and was ranked No. 13 in Indiana by Indianamat.com, with McGinley saying he “really sacrificed, and he did an awesome job of keeping his weight and mentally being strong the whole year. He's jumping up a couple weight classes.” McGinley called Bissmeyer “definitely one of our leaders in the room vocally. He's not afraid to call guys out. It's showing. He's put on a little weight, he's eating a little bit more and I think he's excited about the year.” *Kyle Harden, 190 pounds, junior. He qualified for state tournament each of the past two seasons, finishing seventh in the state at 175 pounds as a sophomore and sixth as a freshman at 170 pounds. He also is moving up in weight class in 2024-2025 and ranked No. 3 in Indiana by Indianamat.com. “He was injured pretty much the whole year last year and we didn't get him in until a couple days before the tournament,” McGinley said. “He’s finally getting back on the mat, and it'll be nice to let people see what a true, fully-trained Kyle Harden going into the whole year can be. We think very highly of him.” Senior Conner Bayliss, a state qualifier at 106 pounds in 2023, was ranked No. 19 by Indianamat.com at 126 pounds. McGinley also praised 150-pound junior Tyler Lavin (No. 13 by Indianamat.com) and freshman 106-pounder Tate St. Laurent (No. 7 by Indianamat.com). “Even though he's a freshman, he's coming in with a lot of matches,” McGinley said of St. Laurent, adding: “We've had these kinds of teams before, where top to bottom it’s a wide range of first-year guys, second-year guys and guys that have been there a while. I’s going to be a learning process. “A lot of matches are going to come down to the team effort, whether that effort is getting the fall, or not getting pinned yourself, or not giving up an eight-point match. “Every point's going to be critical for our success this year.” And while the Irish are good in spots, young in others and inexperienced in many others, McGinley said he very much likes the makeup and approach of a team with strong possibilities for the postseason. “It's a good group of kids, a likable group,” McGinley said. “All the kids, they're doing a good job coming in positive. If they have a positive attitude and practice, we're going to get things accomplished and be going in the right direction. “All these matches don't mean anything until the postseason, so whatever you could do to get yourself mentally, physically and mentally for the postseason tournament is what you need to do.”