Jeffersonville Wrestling Tackles Nation’s Toughest Competition Jeffersonville High School wrestling, known for its tradition of taking on Indiana’s best to prepare for the state tournament, kicked off its season by facing one of the toughest schedules in the state. The Red Devils faced eight top-10 ranked teams in their first 15 dual meets, a test designed to challenge and prepare the squad. “I tell them, ‘I will find you the best competition; your job is to try and rise to that competition. When we do, we will find more!’” said Head Coach Danny Struck, whose philosophy emphasizes that adversity builds champions. Weekend Recap: A Mix of Triumph and Learning Friday Matches • Jeffersonville 6, Floyd Central 72 The Red Devils opened their duals with the state’s #1-ranked 3A team, Floyd Central. Despite the lopsided score, senior standout Ben Land picked up an impressive win by pin, showcasing his leadership and skills against elite competition. • Jeffersonville 27, Madison 48 Jeff battled hard against Madison but fell short in the second dual of the evening. Saturday Matches Jeffersonville’s Saturday began with a thrilling victory but quickly turned into a gauntlet against some of the best teams in Indiana and neighboring states. • Jeffersonville 34, Jennings County 32 The Red Devils pulled off a nail-biting win over Jennings County, highlighting their resilience. • Jeffersonville 16, East Central 57 East Central, one of the state’s perennial powerhouses and the 3A defending team state champions, proved too strong for Jeff. • Jeffersonville 18, Columbus East 50 Ranked #2 in 3A, Columbus East showcased why they’re a state title contender, but Jeffersonville found moments of growth in the loss. • Jeffersonville 72, Providence 6 The Red Devils dominated Providence, fresh off its football state title, in a performance that demonstrated their depth and potential. • Jeffersonville 24, Heritage Hills 53 The weekend wrapped up with a hard-fought match against #6-ranked 2A team Heritage Hills, another opponent coming off a football state championship. Jeffersonville stands at 3-6 on the season, with four losses coming against top-10 teams, including three of the last IHSWCA Team State Duals champions (Floyd Central, East Central, and Columbus East). Individual Highlights • Ben Land: Led the team with six wins on the weekend, continuing to prove he’s one of the top wrestlers in his class. • Tim Williams: The 106-pound freshman notched his first win of the season with a major decision over Providence, a promising start to his varsity career. Varsity B at Oldham County Super Duals Jeffersonville’s depth was on display as their second varsity squad competed against varsity teams at the Oldham County Super Duals in Kentucky. With 54 wrestlers on the roster, Coach Struck has built a program that gives opportunities for all athletes to develop. Varsity B Results • Round 1: Jeffersonville 18, Oldham County (KY) 64 (#5 in KY) • Round 2: Jeffersonville 21, Charlestown 53 • Round 3: Jeffersonville 54, Western Hills (KY) 24 • Round 4: Jeffersonville 36, Meade County (KY) 37 (#16 in KY) Jeff’s Varsity B went 1-3 in their first super dual of the season, including a near-upset of the #16 team in Kentucky, Meade County. Varsity B Highlights • Larry Sherman: The freshman had a standout day, going 4-0, including a :24 pin over Kentucky’s #14-ranked 215-pounder. • Damien Carr: Another freshman, Carr secured his first two wins of the season, showing promise for the future. Looking Ahead The Red Devils’ schedule doesn’t ease up this week. • Wednesday: Jeffersonville hosts #27-ranked Moore High School in a boys’ and girls’ dual meet at 6 p.m. • Saturday: • Varsity A heads to Mater Dei to face nationally ranked teams, including #4 Avon, #5 Mater Dei, #10 Bloomington South, Castle High School, and top Illinois squad Civic Memorial. • Varsity B and Girls travel to Doss High School for the Derby City Classic in Louisville, KY. Coach Struck summed up the team’s mindset: “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The lessons we’re learning now will prepare us for the battles to come in the state tournament.” Jeffersonville wrestling is proving once again why it’s one of Indiana’s most respected programs.