Despite dealing with injuries and various other set backs, the varsity wrestling team has still managed to do well so far this season. Perhaps one of their highest points so far this season was during GAC’s on Jan. 9th as the team as a whole was able to pull together for a slew of big wins at the tournament.

“I think our biggest accomplishment is probably when we had eight people medal at the GAC’s,” senior Zack Kneemiller said. “We haven’t had that many people medal in a tournament all year.”

The team struggled earlier this season when senior Jeff Shell became unable to wrestle due to an injury. According to varsity coach Harold Ritchie, senior Brenton Harms was one of the ones able to step up and make some impressive improvements, giving the team the extra boost it needed to perform well without Shell.

“There [have] been some real bright spots so far this season,” Ritchie said. “Doing without Jeff, the team has been through an up and down struggle.”

Harms’ improvement not only helped the team perform well, but it also put him in the State’s top-ten wrestlers in his weight class.

“I just knew that this was my last chance,” Harms said. “A lot of my hardest competitors from last year graduated, so now I just have to go out there and do good [at districts]. Plus the pressure is really on every person, for all of us to go out there and try to succeed.”

As the season is winding down, Ritchie is wanting as many people as possible to make it to Districts. The ultimate goal, however, is to improve from last years total of seven wrestlers making it to State.

“I want to get as many to State,” Ritchie said. “Last year seven went and we had two state medalists. It would be great if we could have those numbers increase and get more of the guys out there.”