Four months after Senior Griffin Ingalls competed at junior nationals, he and the FHS wrestling team led by Coach Frank Ingalls, started their season with a win against Noblesville in a dual meet. Highlighted by quick pins from Ingalls and junior Jacob Carroll on the night, the wrestling team brings back semistate qualifiers Quenton Riley, Chayce Yant and a state runner-up from the freshman/sophomore bracket in Teyon Leonard who all started the season 1-0. 

   According to the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) rules, a high school wrestling match consists of up to three periods that are two minutes long. For junior Teyon Leonard, he needed every second of that time, as he had one of the more gut-wrenching victories on Wednesday night. The Tigers would go on to win the dual meet against Noblesville, 58-18. Leonard, who also plays football in the fall, had his expectations set high coming into the season after his impressive feats last year. 

   “[Having to outlast my opponent] showed me where I am,” Leonard said. “I could have done a lot better… I went out there expecting a pin and not getting it will just make me want it more next time.” 

   Although Leonard did not get the full six points for the pin, his three-point grind-it-out victory helped give the rest of the team momentum. This carried over into two other full-length matches where the team came out victorious both times. 

   “I felt myself getting more and more tired,” Leonard said. “In the end, I just felt like I wanted it more and was hungry for the win. 

   For senior manager, Alexa Denney, seeing the hard work come to fruition is well worth the laundry and cleaning. 

   “Off-season training was challenging for all of them,” Denney said. “Not only did they have their practice, but a lot of them stayed after to get more work which showed well tonight. They are all just one huge family that want to better each other at whatever is put in front of them.”

   Leonard’s hard work in the weight room not only helped him outlast his opponent on Wednesday but was instituted after his state finals loss last year. 

   “After getting runner up, I knew I did not want to feel that feeling again,” Leonard said. “I know that I will see him again and I want to make sure this time I take it home.”