By Justin Albers

For Pendleton News

PENDLETON — The Pendleton Heights wrestling team was expected to be competitive this season and possibly advance a couple of athletes to the state meet.

Now, everyone is thinking about even more.

As the Arabians prepare for the Hamilton Heights sectional on Saturday, they will be attempting to grab a school record 18th victory.

“We feel like we’re finally being rewarded for working hard in the room,” senior Eric Jarrett said. “The victories and trophies are great to have as reminders. Without a sectional win, though, the season will feel empty.”

Matt (33-0) and Mason Todd (31-1) have dominated the opposition to this point and helped the Arabians win a county title and finish second in the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet. Both are expected to advance to the state finals, but they’d like to help the team advance first.

Matt Todd, a senior, has been looking forward to this moment all year and hopes to redeem himself after a fourth-place finish at semistate and a sub-par state performance last season. He’s wrestling 11 pounds lighter this year (160 pounds), making him even more dominant than he was before.

“It makes (wrestling) a blast to be doing as well as I am and it pays all the hard work off,” Todd said. “And to also have a successful team makes it that much better. I believe we could win sectionals if we all wrestle to our ability.”

Other key wrestlers this season include seniors Jarrett and Nick Holt, juniors Henry Nichols and Justin Eshelman and many others. The depth of the Arabians is a big reason they’ve had such a successful year.

But the goal for each and every athlete has been the same all season: win the Hamilton Heights sectional and advance as a team. The Arabians will get their chance on Saturday morning.

PH coach Dave Cloud was not available for comment.