PENDLETON — At the very least, preparing for wrestling season has been interesting. Pendleton Heights Coach Dave Cloud along with his coaching staff and team are working with a script to get them through the season.

“It’s a very challenging year,” Cloud said.

Despite the obstacles, the Arabians are setting tasks at hand to get what they want: Titles.

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Senior Jared Brown, a two-time state qualifier leads the Arabian brigade. Brown is the holder of three sectional titles, three Madison County titles, and will move up from the 132 class to the 138 this season. Brown was sidelined briefly last season because of concussion protocol but came back to win his sectional and advance through regional and semistate action.

“We really want to get him out of Friday night onto the round of eight on Saturday,” Cloud said of Brown in state meet competition.

He said both the regional and semistate are meat grinders of competition for everyone. After 26 overall sectional titles and five of the last six, the Arabians are up for the task.

Returning sectional champion junior Ethan Childers has grown tremendously as a wrestler, Cloud said. Last season he filled the 152 class. Joining Childers is another junior, Colin Gillespie. At 182 last year, Gillespie went on to semistate competition and was the Hoosier Heritage Conference Champ.

Senior A.J. Hopkins filled in for Justin Stephens at last year’s Madison County tournament. Hopkins went on to win the class and helped push the Arabians to another Madison County Championship. He returns in the upper weight class, and Cloud said he thinks Hopkins will be strong again.

Also returning is senior Gator Bynum and T.J. Swinford, juniors Blake Nicholson and Elijah Creel and sophomore Sam Mossoney.

“Mossoney was an outstanding freshman for us,” Cloud said. “He came out of nowhere and surprised some people.”

Senior Sarah Dix placed fifth in the girls state wrestling tournament last year. She returns to the lineup and has recruiters watching.

Post season isn’t the only event the Arabians are preparing for. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Madison County Tournament. Pendleton Heights won the very first one and will be the host for the golden celebration Dec. 19.

“We’d really like to win this year as a tribute to George King,” Cloud said.

King was responsible for the beginnings of Arabian wrestling.

Before they can get to tournament action, meets have to stay on the schedule.

Already the six-way at Hamilton Heights was canceled, and the Arabians will compete in the North Central Invite Nov. 21.

Cloud and his staff have divided the team into small pods of activity with a few wrestlers in similar weight classes. If anyone has to quarantine because of Covid 19, the pod, not the whole squad, is affected.

Cloud is stressing personal responsibility to ensure the Arabians can have their season.

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2020-21 Pendleton Heights wrestling schedule

Date;Opponent;Time

Nov. 21;at North Central Invitational;9 a.m.

Dec. 1;at Greenfield-Central;6:30 p.m.

Dec. 5;at New Castle Invitational;8:30 a.m.

Dec. 12;Super Six (at PH);8:30 a.m.

Dec. 14;at Anderson;6:30 p.m.

Dec. 19;County tourney (at PH);8:30 a.m.

Jan. 6;vs. Mt. Vernon;6:30 p.m.

Jan. 12;at Fishers;6:30 p.m.

Jan. 16;at HHC (Yorktown);8:30 a.m.

Jan. 20;at Frankton;6:30 p.m.

Jan. 30;at Sectional;8:30 a.m.

Feb. 6;Regional (at PH);9:30 a.m.

Feb. 13;at Semi-State (New Castle);9 a.m.

Feb. 19;at State Finals (Indpls.);6 p.m.

Feb. 20;at State Finals (Indpls.);9 a.m.

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Seniors

Jared Brown (138), Gator Bynum (160), T.J. Swinford (152), A.J. Hopkins (220), Sam Cruser (160), Sarah Dix (120), Gage Grimes (145), Jalen Trent (170

Juniors

Ryan Butler (152), Ethan Childers (152), Gavin Metschke (132), Blake Nicholson (126), Elijah Creel (113), Kasey Cruse (145), Ashton Richardson (160), Jonathan Stoner (182), Colin Gillespie (182), Jaiden Tong (132), Jadon Harrison (152), Jake Harrod (152), Dylan Whistler (145), Rylan Hensley (138)

Sophomores

Brad Liebert (145), Peyton Liebert (126), Sam Mossoney (220), Owen Eastridge (152), Evan Tolliver (120), Morrison Hurt (160)

Freshmen

Eli Libler (220), Jay Covington (126), Chris Crank (138), Peyton Pollock (182), Dylan Powell (145), Daunte Cruz (145), Dresden Roberts (182), Hayden Edmundson (132), Jack Todd (132), Alivia Fox (120), Gage Turner (152), Ryder Lawyer (106)

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