Head Coach John Kopnisky said he is looking forward to the Sectional tournament, which will be held tomorrow at Zionsville. It is the first qualifier for the individual and team state tournament. The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m.

The team has been Sectional Champions 18 times since 1976, so it is no stranger to success in the postseason.

Sophomore wrestler Drew Deaton, who was in the 195-pound weight class as of Jan. 5, said he was also looking forward to the Sectional tournament.

“We have a lot of talent right now, but the team is still young,” Deaton said. “I think that once we get some more experience, then we will be very good.”

For the past two years, the team has finished second in the Sectional, and Deaton said it hopes to improve on those finishes this year. Although their record is worse this year, the team believes it has a good chance to be successful in the postseason this year.

In order to be successful in the postseason though, every wrestler on the team must make his targeted weight class so that he has the best chance of winning his match.

Although there are 14 weight classes at this school for wrestlers to compete in, many of the athletes try to cut weight to reach a target weight class.

Kopnisky said he believes wrestlers should begin trying to cut weight sometime during the offseason before competition begins.

“Having a proper diet, cutting out junk foods and sodas, staying in shape and eating a balanced meal every time you eat will help a wrestler reduce unnecessary fat,” Kopnisky said via email.

Because of the work wrestlers put in to cut weight during the offseason and even throughout the season, they are likely to switch weight classes during the season.

“Right now there are two other people in my weight class, but people switch weight classes a lot,” Deaton said.

According to Kopnisky, the wrestling team has been pretty successful so far this year, but they still have important goals to accomplish, one of which includes winning the Sectional Championship this  year..

“One goal we are working towards is to win the Sectional championship,” Kopnisky said.

According to Deaton, although wrestlers have been trying to cut weight since the offseason, they have also worked hard during the season to accomplish their goals, one of which is winning the Sectional Championship.

“We are working very hard,” Deaton said. “I think the season has been going pretty well so far, and hopefully we can learn more and get more experience throughout the year.”