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In its third full year – and the first under current head coach Alex Wright – the George Rogers Clark High School wrestling program has found much reason for excitement. 

Recently, the team took time to celebrate not only its success, but those who have played a key role in securing it. 

Senior night was celebrated for athletes at GRC Arena, on the same night of a meet against Bourbon County High School. 

“Before we started wrestling, we went through…a senior profile [and] presented their families with flowers and [with] a gift,” said Coach Wright. “We told the audience a little bit about them.” 

Specifically, with a youthful girls squad, this year’s cast of seniors was limited to two male wrestlers: Bryan Falls and Andrew Oliver. 

Falls, also a key member of this year’s Cardinals football team that advanced in the postseason for the first time since 2019, wrestles in the 215-lb. weight class. 

“In the last rankings, he was ranked [in] the top 15,” Coach Wright said. “He’s dealing with a toe injury…so we’re trying to get him healthy and ready to go so he’s at full strength.” 

Oliver, a wrestler in the 135-lb weight class, has been a four-year member of the team beginning his freshman year. 

“We actually had about half of our lineup, compared to Bourbon County who had a full lineup,” said Wright. “We did actually end up winning the duel…still being able to win that was really, really impressive.” 

Wright hopes that this year’s graduating class is remembered fondly and justly. 

“It’s really important that this graduating class gets a lot of attention…it is technically the first four-year [group] we’ve had in the program,” he said, noting Oliver in particular. “It’s super special for this team and this program…we’re hoping for many more of those groups [going] forward.” 

As the season continues, Wright’s hopes remain high. 

“We’re rounding the corner and coming toward the back end. We only have about three or four weeks of [regular season] competition,” he said. “[We’re] really just trying to ramp it up and get all of our…athletes ready to compete.” 

Wright anticipates approximately nine athletes – seven boys and two girls – competing in regional competition beginning midway through February. 

“[We’re] hoping to bring some state medals to George Rogers Clark [High School],” he said. “The biggest thing I want people to know is that we are open to anybody and everybody and we’ll be happy to have you come try [wrestling] out.”