LAPEL — In his second year as Lapel’s wrestling head coach, Jake Stilwell has settled into a routine he believes will help set the future for the program.
After having to wait out Lapel’s extended football season, the Bulldogs had but a few practices before opening their season.
“We have a good group this year,” Stilwell said.
Mixed with nine returning varsity wrestlers is a balance of freshmen and those who didn’t wrestle last year but have in the past.
Leading the Bulldogs is senior Harrison Hadley, who qualified for state last year and is beginning the season ranked.
Hadley wrestles at 120 pounds, up from 106 last year.
Sparky Manis (126 pounds) returns as a regional qualifier from last year. Also returning is Cade Thompson (170 pounds) and Phoenix Mills (182 pounds). Bryan Rodriguez (113 pounds) worked many off-season hours to ready himself for competition.
“We have a great mix of senior leadership and freshman talent,” Stilwell said. He said he believes several of those freshmen will break into the lineup.
As a team, the Bulldogs are more organized and are turning into an exciting wrestling school.
“I think we will be able to compete for a title,” Stilwell said.
The Madison County tournament Dec. 15 at Pendleton Heights will be a measuring stick for the Bulldogs, with some sectional opponents involved.
“We have enough kids to put in every weight class, and it’s just a nice blend of guys,” Stilwell said.
The Bulldogs are packing their schedule with competition that will only make them better, both for this year and for the future of the program.
The Frankton Invitational Dec. 22 will be another opportunity for Lapel to see where it stacks up amid the tough teams.
Not only does Stilwell want to send wrestlers to state, he also believes the Bulldogs can be a state contender as a team in the future.
At the Edgewood Super Duals Nov. 17, the Bulldogs went 2-3 for the day. They defeated Union County 48-24 and Tri Central 66-6 but fell to Greenfield-Central, McCutcheon and Elwood.
Hadley had five wins for the day, including four pins. Mohr went 4-1, and teammates Manis, Smith (160 pounds), Gage Thompson (170 pounds), Mills and Morris (200 pounds) compiled 3-2 records for the event.
Up next for the Bulldogs was a Nov. 20 match at Randolph Southern. The Maconaquah Invitational is Dec. 1.
Stilwell also announced club wrestling will be part of the Bulldog program. The club will be geared for students in kindergarten through sixth grade; details will be revealed at a later date.
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8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at Elwood (Super Duels)
6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Randolph Southern (with Hagerstown and Blue River Valley)
8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Maconaquah Invitational
6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 vs. Eastern Hancock
8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 — Madison County Tournament at Pendleton Heights
6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19 vs. Knightstown (with Centerville and Union City)
9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 at Frankton Invitational
9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at Spartan Classic (Connersville)
9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 at Spartan Classic (Connersville)
9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 — Neil Muse Invitational at home (with Anderson, Clinton Central, Eastern Hancock, Jefferson, South Side)
6 p.m. Thursday, Jan 17 vs. Daleville
9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at sectional
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