After falling to Shelbyville in last week’s season opener, some frank discussions from the coaching staff led to a closed-door meeting by the Warren County High School Pioneer wrestlers.
Whatever they talked about, it worked as they commanded a 42-24 victory last week over the visiting Coffee County Red Raiders.
“After the Shelbyville match, we were at a loss how to motivate the team,” said Warren County head coach Stephen Martin. “After stellar performances in the preseason, we were puzzled by the squad’s tepidness and lack of drive. After a short strategy session, the coaches excused themselves so the team could reflect on what happened. Whatever they discussed, it was definitely a different team coming out of the locker room. There was definitely a change in their demeanor. Even their stance was stronger and not so timid.”
As they took the mat against the Red Raiders, Pioneer Ethan Jaco, 138-pound weight class, proved a point by pinning his opponent Joe White in the first round at 1:34. 
The Pioneers forfeited the next two weight classes, 145, 152, giving Coffee County the lead 12-6 before a double forfeit at the 160 weight class left the score unmoved.
At 170, Warren County’s Mario Henandez took to the mat against Coffee County’s Reid Lawrence. Although Lawrence tried to throw off Hernandez with every trick in the book, the veteran Pioneer wasn’t fazed, defeating his opponent in the second round with a decisive pin using a double grapevine.
Hernandez’s composure and sportsmanship earned him wrestler of the night from the coaches and pulled the Pioneers to flush as the score stood 12-12.
Blake Snook, 185, and Ivan Stacy, 195, both accepted forfeits to put the Pioneers in the lead, 24-12. James Ramsey, 220, and Zach Flatt, 285, both tacked on commanding pins, Ramsey’s coming at 1:00 into the match and Flatt’s at just 49 seconds, giving the Pioneers a 36-12 lead.
A double forfeit came at the 106-pound weight class before Coffee County claimed forfeits at both the 113 and 120 weight classes moving the score to 36-24 for Warren County.
A subsequent double forfeit at 126, left little changed as Jamison Merriman, 132, accepted a final forfeit to give the Pioneers the victory.
The Pioneers played host to Franklin County and Blackman on Tuesday night. Results were not available at press time. On Dec. 1, the Pioneers travel to Smyrna High School to face both Smyrna and Oakland.
 Wrestler  Weight   Class
BOYS

Bell, Tyler 145  

Bennett, Justin  152  

Castro, Christian 145
Conaway, Keishon  HW 
Eldridge, Eli    220
Flatt, Zach  HW Hernandez, Mario  170
Jaco, Ethan 138 McBride, David 182
Merriman, Jamison 126
Ramsey, James 220
Snook, Blake 182
Stacy, Ivan 195
Tolliver, Zack 152
Whitman, Justin 220

GIRLS

Bryan, Keyonna 185
Vasquez, Allison 148
Yokly, Hollie 138