On Saturday, January 28, the Paoli wrestling team will be traveling to Bloomington North High School to compete in the IHSAA Wrestling Sectional. 

Nine wrestlers from the team will compete.

“Going in we are a bit of the underdogs being the small school at a Sectional with giants all around us,” said Wresting Coach JD Emerick. 

Senior Marty Higgins will compete in the 195 lbs. weight class. Higgins is also heading into Sectional as a PLAC champion.

“We got a lot of tough competition at Sectional, but with how the season has gone I like our chances. I trust the guys next to me to walk onto the mat, put in the work, and execute what they know,” said Higgins. 

Fellow senior Austin Benales will also be competing in the 160 lbs. weight class. Benales not only is a PLAC champion, but also is undefeated this season.

“I think this season went very well and I’m very excited to see what the team can do going into sectional,” said Benales. 

The final senior to compete is Adin Monroe, another PLAC champion competing in the 138 lbs. weight class. 

“I’ve seen a lot of growth, personally and amongst my team members. Our goal as a team is to hit the mat on Saturday with a plan in mind and an attitude that will bring us success on and off the mat,” said Monroe. 

Also competing at Sectional will be freshmen Deegan Brashear and Kolt Bonta, sophomore Jonathan Shellenberger, and juniors Matteo Sambruni, Larry Warren and Quinton Albertson.

“I felt like this season we saw a lot of improvement out of our team, and we will wrestle our best to compete at our Sectional,” said Emerick.

Sectional will start at 9 a.m. with award to follow at 3 p.m.