The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Winter Sports Preview Wednesday, November 27, 2019 D- 3 Charger matmen expect improvements The Pike Central 2019-20 wrestling team members are, front row (l to r): Cody Davis, Hayden McDowell, Dalton Williams, Griffin Boyd, Jack Tegmeyer, Ryan Gladish and Isaiah Greer; back row: Jon Cannon, Brandon Goeppner, Blake Henson, Wyatt Frasure, Jackson Stuckey, Kael Speedy, Corey Goeppner, Jaggar Gladish and Coach Ryan McCain. Willis & Company, p.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS Gregory K. Willis, CPA Carla D. Willis, CPA 705 MAIN ST., PETERSBURG (812) 354-6274 FAx: (812) 354-6974 Members American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Indiana CPA Society CHARGERS! GO A FAN FAVORITE Joe Mama's Pizza HOURS: Wed. & Thur. 5pm-8pm, Fri. & Sat. 5pm-9pm By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.com The Pike Central wrestling team is in search of more consis- tency and continued growth in 2018 -19. The youthful Chargers have some good leaders and will lean on their conditioning this season after another solid offseason. "We had the majority of our kids at different camps over the sum- mer, plus we completed six weeks of preseason conditioning," Pike Central head coach Ryan McCain said. "These guys are ready to go the first day of practice. We are a young team once again. We've got to focus on staying healthy and end the season better and tough- er than we started. We've got a great group of kids filled with some great leaders. I expect them to push each other and encourage each other, and I believe we will have some really great things hap- pen this season." The Chargers returns two ath- letes who advanced to the IH- SA A Regional 14 Tournament at Bloomington South in Brandon Goeppner and Isaiah Greer. Greer placed fourth at the re- gional and advanced to the semi- state meet at the Ford Center in Evansville. Greer, a junior, returns and will wrestle at the 113-pound weight class after finishing with a 29 -15 record a season ago. "He had a great run as a sopho- more and made it to semi-state," McCain said. "He has maintained his weight through the offseason, worked really hard and is ready to go this year. I can't wait to see what he achieves this year." Goeppner, a senior, returns at 132 after going 11-11 and earning first team Academic All-State hon- ors last year. "Brandon had a rough year last season," McCain said. "He became ill with mono during football sea- son and missed about half of wres- tling season. He had a hard road to go, but once he got cleared, he worked his butt off, made the weight and was able to break through to regional. It was very inspiring." Taylor Atkins will be backup to Goeppner at 132. It's the sopho- more's second year wrestling. "Taylor works hard and is al- ways trying to learn," McCain said. Senior Blake Henson returns at 138. Henson would have joined Go- eppner as a first team Academic All-State recipient, but he suffered a season-ending injury two weeks before the sectional tournament. "Blake is a great kid, hard work- er and sets a great example for the team," McCain said. "He was a cap- tain last year, and I'm expecting big things in his last year." Sophomore Jon Cannon returns at 145 after going 24-21. Cannon went into last season's sectional tournament with a high seed, but nerves and experience proved to be a little bit much for him and he came up short of a championship. "I expect Jon to have a great year," McCain said. "He's been to many camps and is always striv- ing to improve. I know he's got a chip on his shoulder about that this year, I look for him to improve greatly." McCain said he believes senior Dalton Williams will wrestle at 106. Williams was a regional qual- ifier two years ago, but he strug- gled with weight last season. He finished 8 -13 and earned second team Academic All-State honors. "He had to wrestle up a few weight classes," McCain said. "I believe if he can get back to 106 and stay there, he will have his best year yet. We're expecting big things from him." Griffin Boyd will probably be the backup at 106, unless Wil- liams can't maintain his weight, "Griffin is a very hard worker," Mc- Cain said. "He has a great future at this weight class. He is a fresh- man this year." Junior Cody Davis is back at 220. Davis finished the season with a record of 7-28, but he really start- ed to turn things around at the end of last season. "Things started to click and he started winning matches against guys he previously lost to," Mc- Cain said. "He's worked hard in the offseason, and should have a much improved season." Cory Goeppner, a freshman, will wrestle at 195. "Cory had a good run in middle school," McCain said. "He is a hard worker, is always getting after it in practice." The Chargers will also have a freshman at 182 in Kael Speedy. "He's a strong kid with great dedication and a great attitude," McCain said. "He will be a great asset for the team." Senior Jaggar Gladish was look- ing to break into the starting line- up last season before he suffered a dislocated elbow early in the sea- son. "That put the brakes on his sea- son," McCain said. "I know he's dying to get out there this year to prove himself. I'm looking forward to seeing it." Sophomore Wyatt Frasure will wrestle at either 170 or 182. "I've been coaching Wyatt since his sixth-grade year," McCain said. "He's tough as nails. Last year, he was in a tough weight class at 152, he took his lumps and paid his dues, and I believe he's ready to have a big year." Freshman Jackson Stuckley will wrestle at 152. "He's a very strong athletic kid," McCain said. "If he does the right things and sticks with it, he will have a great future." These guys are ready to go the first day of prac- tice. We are a young team once again. We've got to focus on staying healthy and end the season better and tougher than we started. We've got a great group of kids filled with some great leaders. I expect them to push each other and encourage each other, and I believe we will have some real- ly great things happen this season." – Head Coach Ryan McCain " See MATMEN on page 7 Lana R. Hel ms, DDS , MSD, PC Making and sharing SMILES! Be a Winner! Stay in school, study hard and prepare for a great future. Board-Certified in Orthodontics for children, adolescents and adults Appointments Monday-Thursday 812-254-4500 2116 State Street, Washington www.lanahelms.com Pike Central W restling