Young A-P/GC wrestling team shows spark

PARKERSBURG – In the last few years, Brian Benning said he coached an Aplington-Parkersburg wrestling program that was "tougher than snot" in the wrestling room.
 
But when the wrestlers would take the mat in the main gym, it didn't line up with what he was seeing in practice.
 
It was a difference that Benning immediately noted when this winter's Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center wrestling team took center stage in Parkersburg last Thursday night.
 
"No one clammed up, no one was locked up," Benning said. "We brought what we had in the wrestling room to the gym."
 
Though it wasn't a night that went off without any hitches – Benning admits the Falcons were "a little awestruck" by Union in a 59-22 defeat to start the night – the A-P/GC head coach liked the way the Falcons battled back for a competitive dual with North Tama, which the Redhawks narrowly won, 36-33.
 
"We battled tough," Benning said. "It's all new to a lot of them, it's a shiny new toy for them. They're still learning and that's good."
 
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