JEFF LOADED TO DEFEND SECTIONAL

[dstruck]

JEFF LOADED TO DEFEND SECTIONAL

by Kenzie Winstatt of the Louisville Courier Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091203/SPORTS06/912030399/1034/Jeff+loaded+to+defend+sectional

 

 

Jeffersonville will try to stay atop the Southern Indiana wrestling scene this season, and once-powerful Floyd Central is trying to reload.

 

The Red Devils return several key wrestlers from last year's sectional title team ? just the school's fourth sectional title ever ? and sectional runner-up Floyd Central must replace 12 seniors.

 

Jeffersonville is led by junior Caleb Browner, a defending sectional and regional champion who wrestles at 171. Browner already owns a 10-2 win over Garrett Goldman of Bloomington North in the Capital City Classic at Beech Grove.

 

In the recent Capital City Classic, Jeff finished second to No.3 Perry Meridian.

 

Some of the Red Devils' top individuals include Alonzo Shepherd (103 pounds), Curtis Smith (112), Devon Miller (119) and Ronaldo Weekly (125).

 

Jeff coach Danny Struck said he hopes for another big year. ?We hope so,? he said. ?We think we're better, but some of our competition is better, too.?

 

The numbers at Jeff have made Struck optimistic. The Red Devils have more than 60 kids in the wrestling program, and they will field two varsity squads this year.

 

?We've built two varsity schedules,? Struck said. ?I don't know anyone else who does that.?

 

Struck said he has two varsity teams to give more kids an opportunity to participate in the sport.

 

?You could be behind Caleb Browner and be a really good senior,? he said.

 

Struck also mentioned the Red Devils' international flare. They have wrestlers from six countries: the United States, Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, South Korea and Mongolia.

 

At Floyd Central ? where the Highlanders have won 24 sectional titles ? second-year coach Brandon Sisson must replace 12 seniors.

 

However, the Highlanders aren't without optimism, returning three wrestlers who qualified for the semistate: Logan Kelly (103), Aaron Witt (130) and Ben Moberly (145).

 

The Highlanders are young. Of Floyd Central's 36 wrestlers, 18 are freshmen.

 

?We have a lot of kids who are untested,? Sisson said. ?We'll probably have to take some lumps early on.?

 

At New Albany ? where, like Floyd Central, there's a solid freshman group ? the Bulldogs are led by senior Tim Martin, a state qualifier a year ago at 140. He's joined by heavyweight Taylor Hoke, a semistate qualifier, and regional qualifier Larry Rickman (145).

 

The Providence wrestling squad is led by senior Jacob Golembeski, a 160-pounder who advanced to the semistate last year.

 

Charlestown returns sectional champions Jeff Stotridge (119), Taylor Newcomb (145) and Mark Daugherty (152), who advanced to the semistate last year.