Mat Cougars Have New Lineup

Piedmont Academy wrestling coach Darrell Young has set his lineup for the upcoming season and believes several of his competitors have a chance to do well at the state level in 2005-06.

Young said earlier this week this year’s varsity lineup will include B.J. Benjamin (119), Ryan Young (130), Chris Brunton (140), Blake McMichael (145), Joey Schroeder (152, 160), Charley Needham (170) and Hugo Huerta (189).

Piedmont was scheduled to open the new season Wednesday at Windsor. Coach Young said several of the wrestlers would be competing up a weight class in the first match. The coach said he expects some of his wrestlers to drop down in weight classification for the next match in January.
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Brunton is the team’s lone senior while Ryan Young, McMichael and Schroeder are juniors. Needham is a sophomore this year while Benjamin and Huerta are freshmen.

The Mat Cougars will also have four middle school wrestlers who will compete in exibition matches in 2005-06 in order to gain mat experience.
Chandler Sanders, Zach Benjamin, Drew Odegaard and Mateson Slaughter will compete in exhibition matches while elementary school competitors Dalton Sanders, Montana Sanders and Ben Davis are also working with the program.

“We have looked good in practice,” Coach Young said. “The new wrestlers have learned a lot in two weeks. Our younger wrestlers are working hard to learn the basics.”

The Mat Cougars will take to the mat next on January 4 when they host Mt. de Sales and Tattnall Square.