The lineup card provides the most obvious sign of the growth of Heathwood Hall’s fifth–year wrestling program.

For the first time, coach Hank Wall could field a wrestler at every spot, although one unfilled weight class has been the case so far in the season.

“Last year, we only had nine consistently, so we were giving away four or five forfeits every match, which made it tough,” Wall said.

Also for the first time, Heathwood Hall is fielding a junior high program that Wall hopes will mean the next time he has a large influx of freshmen and sophomore wrestlers they will be ready for the challenges of varsity.

“We have some new guys with a lot of enthusiasm but not a lot of experience and in wrestling experience is critical,” Wall said.

Two wrestlers who have plenty of experience are senior captains Charles Gray (119, 125) and Joseph Walker (171). Gray owns two SCISA state titles at 112 and 119 and with 73 career wins has a chance to reach 100. Walker finished third in the state meet last year at 152.

“Both of those guys will do well in the public school tournaments we go to,” Wall said.

Underclassmen comprise the rest of the team. The best of those are sophomores Fripp Prioleau (130) and Harrison Pendarves (heavy- weight). Prioleau won the state title at 125 last season. Pendarvis was the state runner– up.

“Pendarvis has been wrestling heavyweight since eighth grade and is growing into his body,” Wall said. “He’s very nimble for such a big guy.”

Among the first year wrestlers, Wall likes the athleticism displayed by junior Will Cloyd (189) and Brandon Jefferson (145).

“Jefferson’s only been at it for a couple of weeks, but he looks like a great wrestler,” Wall said. “I think he will make a huge contribution if he sticks with it. I’m hoping he will bolster weights where we have been weak.”

The youngest starters have been freshmen Andrew Cloyd (135) and Robert Summers (112) and eighth–grader Jamie Costner.

Will Lord (125), Mitch Watford (140), Emerson Smith (152), and John Crosthwaite (160) complete the lineup.