PENDLETON — On a night of celebrations, Pendleton Heights felt both the highs and lows. The Arabians celebrated 40 years since George King introduced wrestling to the school. Unfortunately, the celebration ended in the last match of the evening as Greenfield-Central left the mat victorious, 35-33.
Between the junior varsity and the varsity match, Pendleton brought out the old and the young of Arabians wrestling. It started by introducing former members of wrestling teams gone by and followed those introductions with the youth wrestlers — the future of the Arabians program.
The most important introduction might have been when King’s name was announced. He was welcomed with a standing ovation by the Pendleton faithful. He waved to the crowd, many of whom have probably known him most of their lives.
King started the wrestling program in 1969 while at Markleville. It was by coincidence he even went to work for the school.
He said that Charlie Moss, former superintendent and principal, asked King if he would be interested in working for Markleville and starting its wrestling program. King explained he was leaving that day to sign with the New Castle school district. Moss advised him he was ready to make King an offer he couldn’t refuse. The offer was too good, and that began what is now Pendleton Heights wrestling.
King’s influences must have touched many based on the ovation he received from the Arabians fans. He acknowledged that Pendleton fans always have treated him very well.
“It really feels great,” said King of the ovation. “The program’s doing so well — (current coach) David’s (Cloud) doing such a good job.”
Once the ovation died down, there was still a wrestling match to get to.
Pendleton took a commanding 18-0 lead to start, and that lead would last until the very last match of the evening.
Zach Wise led off at the 112-pound weight class with a pin with 1:33 left in the second period. Justin Eshleman followed in the 125-pound class with a pin of his opponent. This came with just 16.6 seconds left in the second period.
A Greenfield-Central forfeit at the 119-pound class led to the 18-0 score.
The Cougars won seven of the next 10 matches to get within four points (33-29) with only one match left.
It came down to Beau Matheney of PHHS and Josh Farrell in the 103-pound weight class. Farrell was able to capitalize by pinning Matheney just 69 seconds into the first period.
The Matheney loss gave the Cougars the two-point advantage to end the match.
“I’m really proud of the way the kids wrestled,” said Cloud. “I hope they’re (Arabians alumni wrestlers and coaches) proud of the way these kids wrestled.”
Cloud said his team is young and inexperienced, but he feels like they will eventually learn from their mistakes.
“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment,” he said.
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