Greencastle wins Putnam County Title

Friday, December 18, 2015
Greencastle's varsity wrestling team celebrates with the Putnam County Trophy Thursday after going 3-0 in tournament play and earning first place in the 2015 Putnam County Tournament. GHS had seven Tiger Cubs earn individual honors. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

CLOVERDALE -- The four Putnam County wrestling teams hit the mat Thursday for the 2015 Putnam County Tournament and it was GHS that walked away with the championship trophy, taking wins against each of the other county schools.

"The hard work is starting to pay off," GHS interim coach Shane Thomas said. "We're seeing it on the mats. We've been telling them all year. If they keep working hard and it'll show on the mat."

Seven Tiger Cubs took home the Individual championship and many of those GHS wrestlers will be returning for more chances at success.

The individual wrestling champions include (front, from left) Cauy Thomas, Will Bolton, Ethan Tuggle, Jacob Lorimer, Michael Anderson, Trae Carrington Trace Thomas, (back, from left) Payton Skadra, Kylar Galloway, Reuben Edwards, Will Cruse, Cody Wyatt, Kyle Shaffer and Joe January. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"The good thing right now is that we are young," Thomas said. "We've only got two juniors wrestling and one senior. The rest are sophomores and freshmen. So the program looks like it'll do well in the next couple of years."

North Putnam took second place with a 2-1 day, defeating CHS 67-12 and taking a win over South Putnam 54-27. However the match against the Eagles was closer than the score suggests as many Cougars had to give it their all to take down the defending county champions.

"I'm proud of my kids at the elementary school, middle school and high school level," Cougar coach Bucky Kramer said. "In terms of not just their involvement in the program but in the community and the school. The kids take it pretty serious and that is something that as a staff and a school we strive to work for with those kids. Not just in wresting but also in everything we try to do."

GHS' Will Bolton earns two points as he takes North Putnam's Kaidan Kimble to the ground in the 113-pound match on Thursday in the Putnam County Tournament. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

North Putnam only had one individual champion in Reuben Edwards but the entire Cougar squad hit the mat hard and the NPHS fans were quick to notice.

"We appreciated the fan support tonight. We had a great crowd," Kramer continued. "The Cougar nation came out to support us and the administration. We appreciate everyone."

The defending champs had four individual championships and while disappointed with the team results, Eagle coach Josh Hendrickson was happy with the way his Eagles performed on the mat.

Cloverdale's Steven Allen and Greencastle's Braden Lady jockey for good position on the mat. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKET)

"The team didn't do as well tonight as I wish we would've of course," Hendrickson said. "But we had some individual championships and wrestlers who did good in their individual matches. Two of our three seniors won tonight. Out other senior didn't wrestle. That's good for our team."

It wasn't just the victories but joining Cody Wyatt on his first county championship was two-time champion Will Cruse, three-time champion Kyle Shaffer and four-time champion Jacob Lorimer.

"Those guys kind of set the tone for the team," Hendrickson said. "They are our captains as well. They get out there and they do their thing. They are fun to watch."

Greencastle's Joe January tries to gain his footing while Kyle Hall goes for the takedown. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

CHS may not have had an ideal finish but according to the coach Matt Hall, Cloverdale did have the ideal effort from its wrestlers.

"I love that my kids were giving 100 percent in every single match that they went out," Hall said. "Yes, there were a few matches that they could improve upon as far as technique goes. But the fact that they were giving 100 percent is good to see. I love to see kids give all of their heart in a match. I love it. "

Giving all in a tournament where the teams are so familiar is no small feat according to Thomas, whose GHS team will be back in action this weekend this weekend in the Greencastle Holiday Tournament.

"It's tough because the other coaches know what each other like to do," Thomas said. "They are aware and coaching their players and be aware of what they are doing. I can tell you that the boys are really happy this year and glad that their actual coach Charlie Pingleton has been able to come back and around."

Pingleton has been sidelined this season since his diagnosis with a brain tumor. Since his surgery earlier this year he has been seen more and more around the Tiger Cub team.

The South Putnam team will be off until after Christmas when the Eagles take part in the North Montgomery Holiday duals.

Putnam County Tournament

At Cloverdale

Greencastle 3-0

North Putnam 2-1

South Putnam 1-2

Cloverdale 0-3

Round 1

SPHS 45 CHS 19

Greencastle 67 North Putnam 12

Round 2

North Putnam 67 Cloverdale 12

Greencastle 52 South Putnam 26

Round 3

Greencastle 59 Cloverdale 15

North Putnam 54 South Putnam 27

2015 Individual Wrestling Champs

106 Cauy Thomas (GC)

113 Will Bolton (GC)

120 Ethan Tuggle (GC)

126 Jacob Lorimer (SP) *4x

132 Michael Anderson (GC) *2x

138 Trae Carrington (GC)

145 Trace Thomas (GC)

152 Payton Skadra (CL) *2x

160 Kylar Galloway (CL)

170 Reuben Edwards (NP)

182 Will Cruse (SP) *2x

195 Cody Wyatt (SP)

220 Kyle Shaffer (SP) *3x

285 Joe January (GC)

* denotes how many times player has been named Putnam County Champion.

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