Piedmont Wrestlers Struggle
The Piedmont Academy varsity wrestling team learned it has a ways to go this year after opening the new season last week.
The Mat Cougars faced Riverside and Windsor last Wednesday, having to compete against what will be some of their toughest competition in 2006-07.
Piedmont did not post any wins against Windsor and recorded just one pin against Riverside.
“Windsor already had some matches under their belts and many of their wrestlers competed in a USA program,” Mat Cougar coach Darrell Young said. “I could tell immediately we were not in the necessary shape we needed to be.”
Piedmont’s pre-season practice sessions as a full squad were minimal as several team members were still competing in football until recently.
“Even our wrestlers who will eventually have good seasons struggled,” Coach Young said.
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In the match against Riverside, Ryan Young (130) scored a pin for the Mat Cougars’ lone points.
Piedmont also wrestled Weber last Wednesday and picked three forfeit wins at 125 (B.J. Benjamin), 152 (Hayden Louis) and 130 (Young). The two matches that were wrestled were losses for the Mat Cougars.
Despite the slow start to the season, Coach Young was able to see some potential among his wrestlers.
“Hayden showed promise and Isaac was rusty after not competing for a few years,” the coach said. “Still, he began showing some potential after shaking off some of the rust. The matches were a good experience for us.
Riverside and Windsor are two of the best programs in the state. It was good to see where we are and what we need to do to get into competitive form.”
The early-season quality opposition was beneficial on several fronts, Coach Young said.
“It was our first time out and it looked that way,” he said.
“We are not in the shape we need to be in. Those matches woke us up.”
Piedmont will travel to George Walton Academy in Monroe Friday for a tri-match with Windsor. Matches are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Season preview: Coach Young has several competitors with plenty of varsity experience for the new season.
Young, who recently completed the process of finalizing his roster for the 2006-07 campaign, said he believes he has three of the top wrestlers in the state in Ryan Young (128), B.J. Benjamin (123) and Blake McMichael (145). Coach Young expects big things from each of these wrestlers this winter.
In addition to those three standouts, Coach Young has several other wrestlers with potential. Sophomore Wade Roberts (103) is in his first year on the team. Junior Isaac Abbott (137) has wrestled before and is back with the Mat Cougar program this season.
Hayden Louis, a sophomore, is a transfer student, but the 143-pounder competed on the junior varsity team at Heritage High School last season. Junior Charlie Needham returns at 176.
Senior Joey Schroeder is hoping to be able to compete in 2006-07, but is still recovering from a broken hand suffered during football season.
Several younger wrestlers will compete at the junior varsity level for Piedmont including seventh graders Chandler Sanders and Drew Odegaard, sixth grader Brad-ley Mitchell and fifth graders Montana Sanders, Mills Smith and Malcom Tyler.
Third graders Ben Davis and Dawson Sanders will compete on the elementary school level.
“We are happy about our returning wrestlers and our newcomers,” Coach Young said. “We have the potential to have some success on the mat this season. The wrestlers are working hard and should be ready to compete.”
The GISA has divided its schools which compete in wrestling into four regions this season. The Mat Cougars will be in Region 1 along with Brandon Hall, Riverside, Mills Springs, Holy Spirit, Heirway, George Walton Academy, Hidden Lakes, Webber and Mt. Vernon.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class from each region will advance to the 16-school state tournament, which will be at the Perry Fairgrounds in February.