This week the cheerleaders placed fourth in their division in Dallas.
This weekend the Dazzlers performed at UDA Nationals in Orlando. They placed first in Hip Hop, and second in Pom.
The wrestling team received the crown at the 26th annual sectionals this weekend.
Boys’ swimming placed second at their conference meet and girls placed first at their conference meet.
By Blake Dykes
Photo by Noble Guyon
Out of all of the sports and clubs at the school, one in particular stands out: wrestling. Not only because of the tremendous amount of hours the athletes spend practicing, but because of their unique bond. During most sports, athletes become close to their team; however, the wrestlers claim that they have more of a brotherly bond.
“We’re closer than brothers. We all go through the same things together, and wrestling takes up a lot of time, so we don’t really have time to hang out with anyone else. I probably only have four other friends that aren’t wrestlers,” said senior Michael Kruer.
Being around each other just about everyday does help strengthen their bond, but it is the obstacles that they must overcome to succeed that really unite them.
“We can all relate to each other, like cutting weight and stuff. Plus we have been wrestling together since middle school, and we haven’t been broken apart. We’re all a big family and everyone has each other’s backs,” said junior Chase Herron.
Even though they spend just about every minute with each other, they spend their free time together as well.
“We have team parties about every weekend, and we go out to eat after each meet, and just do things that you’d do with friends,” said sophomore Chase Shalosky.
Wrestling is not all fun and games; it also requires long hours of commitment and dedication.
“It is a physically demanding sport. We have kids on the team that play other sports and they all say this is the a lot harder,” said Kruer.
Senior John Meldrum added to this.
“I think what makes Floyd Central wrestling standout is the commitment to our sport. We train practically year round so we are in pretty good shape.”
Not only is it enjoyable to play the sport they love with the friends they love, but what makes it better is that their hard work is paying off.
“This year we have lots of confidence, it shows by the success of this season so far. We have everything together, and we’re good,” said Herron.
These wrestlers are proof that a sport really can form strong friendships that will last for a long time.
“Our bond is unbreakable, my team means so much to me. I think it’s because we all work so hard together,” said Meldrum.
By Claire Defrancisci
Practicing year-round, enduring a four-month long season, attending early morning meets, and overcoming injuries are all things sophomore Cory Troutman does to maintain his wrestling skills.
“Cory is a hard worker when it comes to wrestling and has been dedicated to the sport for a number of years now, he puts in a lot of time during off-season, and he wrestled a ton this past summer and has improved,” said wrestling coach Brandon Sisson.
Troutman first started wrestling in the fourth grade, ever since then he has worked hard to get to where he is today.
“I started because my dad kind of pushed me to do it, then I got into it and started having some success,” said Troutman.
He has been working hard and achieving many accomplishments since then. He has been on the national team for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and has done out-of-school wrestling. He has also had some injuries that have acted as minor setbacks. He said when he is injured he does not take a lot of time off so he can stay in shape, although athletes must also keep attitude in mind as well.
Sisson said that the mental aspect of wrestling is as important as the physical.
“Cory, as well as a number of the wrestlers, needs to work on the mental aspect of the sport. So often people concentrate so much on the physical aspects of sports but if your mind is getting in the way it doesn’t matter what you have been taught,” said Sisson.
One of Troutman’s main goals is to become a state qualifier before the end of high school. Hopefully the time and hard work he has put into this sport has paid off.
“I want to become a state qualifier, I’ll do anything and everything that I can. I will work harder and it will really pay off in the practice rooms.”
By Tyler Coleman and Luke Geraghty
With the wrestling season in full swing, the team will have an opportunity to display its progress to their opposing schools at the FC-hosted Invitational tomorrow. Strong competition from schools such as Corydon, Seymour, Vincennes Lincoln, will require the Highlanders to bring everything they have to the mat.
Junior Ian Bagwell said the team needs to utilize offensive tactics in order to overcome their opponents.
“We all need to wrestle how we want, not how the other guy makes us,” said Bagwell.
In order to reach their intended offensive level, some rigorous performance will be necessary.
The most important element will be through taking more shots and being aggressive, said Bagwell.
“We need to make our opponent never want to step out on the mat with us again,” he said.
Head coach Brandon Sisson agreed with this tactic.
“The style I like is for our guys to be very offensive, scoring lots of points.”
To best achieve this, they are looking for lots of pins, takedowns, and bonus point wins, said junior Adam Hudson.
While planning to put on their best performance possible, the team remains focused on working hard everyday at practice, said junior Jackson Randall
“We need to make sure we are doing everything it takes to be the best,” said Randall.
With the help of these methods, Sisson expects the team to do well all across the board.
“For the first time, I feel very confident in everybody we have in a weight class,” said Sisson.
Last year’s meet came down to a final match between FC and St. X, however they will not be attending this year.
“It’s disappointing we won’t see them this year, we are very similar schools,” said Sisson.
Even though the team plans to put on one of their strongest performances at home, the remainder of the season will continue to increase in competition for them.
“This meet is like a stepping stone, we build as the season goes on, and peak right before sectionals,” said Sisson.
The meet will start at 8:30 a.m. The team will look to keep their momentum after beating rival Providence yesterday, 72-12.
