New year, same tricks for Pleasant Ridge wrestling

Team: Pleasant Ridge wrestling

Last year’s record: 15-5 dual record

Coach: Darren Weber

Coach’s record: 12th year at PR

Key returnees:

Jared Johnson, 170-pound senior; second at state after going 38-3 in 2012

Tony Weber, 113-pound junior; 33-10 last year and two-time state qualifier

Blake Graham, 120-pound junior; 33-11 last season and two-time state qualifier

Clayton Gum, 106-pound senior; 2012 state qualifier

Aaron Brown, 195-pound senior; 33-11 last year

Nate Amos, 160-pound sophomore

Ethan Payeur 152-pound senior

Team Outlook: STRENGTHS — The experience of this year’s Pleasant Ridge wrestling team is off the charts.

Four state qualifiers return for the Rams, all of which are upperclassmen who have been through the rigors of a full varsity season.

The coaching staff hopes that leadership will rub off on the team’s younger ranks.

WEAKNESSES —  Though the squad returns quite a few, PR will have a slightly smaller team according to Weber, which may leave a couple weight classes open.

Big meets: Rossville Tournament on Jan. 5; Holton Tournament on Jan. 19

Coach says: “It’s going to be one of the best seasons of wrestling at Pleasant Ridge since the ‘80s.”

         — Brent Lager