Wrestling, swimming looking for success

Seasons are beginning for Putnam County’s wrestling and swimming teams, and several talented athletes are looking to have big seasons on the mat and in the pool.

Here is a look at each team:

Swimming

• Greencastle — Coach Kent Menzel considers the Tigersharks as being in a rebuilding phase, but still in “solid” shape for this year.

The Tigersharks were Western Indiana Conference Champions last year for both men and women and Putnam County Champions for the women’s team.

Mallary Meyer, now competing at Florida Southern, was sectional champion and qualified for the IHSAA State Championship in the 100 fly.

Junior Grace Gillen was WIC 500 free champion and part of the WIC Champion 200 medley and 200 free relays, while sophomore Abby Meyer was on the WIC Champion 400 free relay squad. Senior Logan Wood returns as county champ in the 100 free, Gillen as county champ in the 500 free and Abby Meyer as county champ in the 100 back.

“On the women’s side of the pool we are looking for leadership from Gillen (100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 back), as well as strong support from seniors Cecilia Pohlar (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly), Gabby Selvia (200 free, 100 fly, 500 free), Ruth Heithaus (200 free, 500 free), and Kelly Hansen (100 fly),” he said.

“For the boys we have a strong group of seniors in Nathan Gobert (100 fly, 100 back), Logan Wood (50 free, 100 free) and Cameron Lewis (200 individual medley, 100 free, 100 breast),” Menzel added.

Menzel is also looking to freshman Jack Riggle to provide strong team support in the sprint events.

“Beyond those swimmers on both sides of the pool, we are counting on all of our younger swimmers to continually improve their performances across the season,” he said.

Others vying for relay honors on the women’s side will be freshmen Annie Hershberger and Sarah Heithaus as well as sophomore Sydney Lewis. Beyond those swimmers above, top contenders for the men’s relays will be juniors J.J. Custis and Preston Headley.

• North Putnam — New head coach Mallory Carver said the team’s season outlook “feels good.”

The girls had their first meet against Covenant Christian last week and came out on top with a score of 102-27.

“They swam hard, even with some girls doing back to back events,” she said. “What they lack in numbers gets made up in effort and talent.”

The Cougar boys will have their first meet tonight at Tri-West.

• South Putnam — Coach Anna Kendall had a large senior class last year, several of whom earned county and conference wins, and who set several new school records (six total between the boys and girls teams).

The girls’ team finished the regular season with a winning record, placed fourth in the WIC and seventh at the sectional. Junior Alex Fanning was third in the conference meet in the breaststoke last year.

“The guys’ team didn’t have the depth to win meets, but had strong individual performances,” she said. “The boys finished sixth in the WIC (one senior set a WIC record in the 100 back) and ninth in the sectional. “Though we have more numbers overall this season, it is a very young group — both in chronological age as well as within the sport itself,” Kendall said. “I’m really pleased with the overall athletic quality and tremendous work ethic we have in the pool this year. They are mentally strong, committed, and have a lot of potential for great achievement over the next few years.”

Wrestling

• Cloverdale — The two Clovers who placed in the sectional last year, Kylar Galloway and Payton Skadra, both graduated.

Senior Zeb Holder is making a return to the mat this season after not competing last year.

• Greencastle — Sophomore Cuay Thomas (35-4) and senior Trae Carrington are the top returners.

Thomas won the WIC championship last year at 106 pounds and placed third in the sectional, while Carrington was second in the sectional.

Ethan Tuggle (29-7), another sophomore, placed third in the sectional and conference meets at 120 pounds. Classmate William Bolton (22-18) was also fifth in the sectional

Junior Chandler Souders (18-17) placed fifth in the sectional at 152 last year, while junior Jacob Meyer (20-13) was fifth in the 160-pound division.

Senior Joe January (32-9) was fourth in 285, while junior Braden Lady (22-18) placed fourth in 220.

• North Putnam — Cougar coach Bucky Kramer and his team are “excited” for the upcoming season.

Last season the team won more than 20 dual matches and placed wrestlers in every tournament.

The lone returning county champ for the Cougars is Reuben Edwards at 170, while Bobby Phillips was the WIC runner-up at 285.

Shawn McLaughlin and Ethan Winings advanced to the regional tournament at Mooresville last season.

“As a team, we have been the county runnerup several times in the past few years,” Kramer said. “We look to improve upon that placing. We have several young wrestlers, but a strong core of individuals who have been working hard in the off-season to improve.”

• South Putnam — Eagle coach Josh Hendrickson is also looking forward to the season.

“We have will have a lot of underclassmen on the team, but are led by our seniors,” he said.

Leading that list is Kyle Shaffer, who placed sixth in the state at 182 his sophomore year but was out last year due to injury. Other seniors are Levi Whitaker and Kyle Hall.

Returning underclassman lettermen include Austin Wilson, Nicholis Theis, Chandler Hayden and Darnell Bennett.