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by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
There
are teams that will run with Hurley, but there
is no team that will run harder.
The Rebels have already scrapped and clawed their way
to three wins in their first four games this season
under new coach Mark Cooper, who takes over for the
highly respected Harold Horne.
Cooper inherits the deepest and most experienced team
in the Black Diamond District. Five returning starters
and a bevy of newcomers fill a variety of roles, and
they all share one thing in common: a willingness to
hustle and run the floor. That’s been a plus for the
Rebels in the early going.
“We’re trying to play an up tempo-type of game,”
Cooper says. “All the kids are basically the same.
They can all run and jump. Until we learn everything
we’re just trying use speed and quickness.
“Our immediate goal is get back to respectability.
It’ll take some time to learn my system. Having all
five starters back is a positive. All these kids
played for me on JV, so they know me.”
The Rebels are led by all-district center Eric May, a
6-foot-6 center who averaged 18 points per game as a
junior. The other four returning starters, junior
Scotty Hurley (5-7) and seniors Shane Shelton (6-0),
Josh Childress (5-11) and Shane Slone (5-10), are a
balanced group.
“All five of them can score when they’re called
upon,”
Cooper added. “The defense right now is what we’re
lacking. We’re not always as intense (on defense) as I
want us to be, but that’ll come with more time in the
gym.”
The newcomers bring a variety of talents to each end
of
the floor. For more of the story, see the print
edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.
For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
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by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
Three
fourth-place finishes, three thirds, three
seconds and three champions.
It all added up to a third place finish and a good
start for Grundy, which traveled to suburban
Cincinnati to open its season in the Raider Rumble at
Larry Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky.
Brandon Hankins (130 pounds), Josh Lee (189) and Andy
Stiltner (275) all won their respective weight classes
for the Golden Wave. John Dotson (125), Jarrett Landis
(135) and Josh McGowan (152) all worked their way to
the finals and placed second in the tournament.
Grundy had 12 wrestlers place in the top four in 10
weight classes and the A team finished third, behind
South Dearborn (Indiana) and Union County (Ky.) High
School.
Ethan Owens (125), Jerami Bartley (160) and Alex
Edwards (275) all finished third. Kaleb Smith (145),
Morgan Owens (171) and Josh Ratliff (215) all reached
the consolation finals and placed fourth.
“I thought, overall, we had a good upside,” Grundy
coach Travis Fiser said. “Our first event, the first
time we were down to weight and we had six wrestlers
in the finals, three firsts, three seconds, three
thirds. We had some guys that really stepped up.”
Hankins won a 4-2 decision over Union County’s Isaac
Irvin in the championship finals at 130 pounds.
In the finals at 189, Josh Lee capped a perfect day
with a 15-3 major decision over South Dearborn’s Ryan
Houchins.
And in his final match of the day, Andy Stiltner
claimed the heavyweight title, 2-1, in double
overtime, over Steve Bodenbender of host Larry Ryle
High School.
“I thought Brandon Hankins did a really good job,”
Fiser said. “He had a tough match in the finals. He
wrestled hard and that’s what got him the win.
“Josh Lee did another good job. He went out after the
South Dearborn kid in the finals. And Andy Stiltner
wrestled a little tight, but it was a good tournament
win for him. He had some good competition and he was
able to win the close ones. And that’s what you need
to do.”
John Dotson, Jarrett Landis and Josh McCowan each won
several matches to reach the finals, where they lost
their final match by fall.
In the consolation finals, Ethan Owens took third at
125 pounds with a 9-5 decision over Steven Vaughn of
South Oldham (Ky.). Jerami Bartley pinned Bullitt
Central’s Joey Davis (1:43) to place third at 160
pounds and Alex Edwards pinned South Dearborn’s Nick
Burris (4:21) to claim third in the heavyweight class.
“The tournament was a good mix,” Fiser said. “It had
some good kids and we got into some good, tough
matches in the later rounds. We still have a lot to
keep working on, but it was a good starting point.”
Grundy will wrestle in a tournament this weekend at
Turner Ashby. Friday’s action begins at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
wrestling commences at 9:45 a.m.
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