LAPEL — Pendleton Heights Arabians wrestlers won their seventh-straight Madison County Wrestling tournament on Saturday, adding one crown onto a string of six previous wins.
“Saturday’s win was the 29th for the Arabians and their seventh in a row,” coach Dave Cloud said in an email to The Times-Post. “That ties the record for the longest winning streak, also held by PH.”
The team finished first in six weight divisions, while finishing second or third in six others.
First-place finishers were: Blake Nicholson (126 pounds), Jack Todd (132), Ethan Childers (152), Gator Bynum (160), Colin Gillespie (195) and Sam Mossoney (285).
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Saturday was the 50th anniversary of the first Madison County Wrestling Championships, Cloud said.
“Pendleton Heights founding coach George King was the impetus behind the tournament,” he said. “Coach King wanted to wrestle Anderson High School, his alma mater, in a dual but they refused to wrestle PH. Coach King knew they would have to participate in a county championship and pushed for the creation of the tournament.
“Coach King’s belief in his team was rewarded when the Arabians captured the first team title in 1970, in spite of having no individual champions.”
Lapel finished third Saturday with 200 points, 60 points behind Pendleton Heights and 22 points behind district rival Frankton.
Other team totals were Alexandria 155, Madison Grant 110 and Elwood 68.
Other Arabian place winners were: Elijah Creel (112) second, Evan Tolliver (120) third, Jaiden Tong (138) second, T.J. Swinford (145) second, Ryan Butler (170) fifth, Dresden Roberts (182) second and Eli Libler (220) third.
The Arabians play host to Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Mt. Vernon on Jan. 6. It will be Senior Night.
