PCHS Activities/Athletics

The PCHS Cougar wrestling team turned in an impressive performance at the Cave Spring Tournament, finishing third out of 14 teams despite being short handed.

“We had a very good day,” said PCHS head coach Zach Silver. “We came into the tournament knowing that any wins would not come easy due to having five starters out, but the team embraced that challenge and didn’t let it deter them.”

PCHS opened the day with a win over Fort Defiance, a team the Cougars lost to last season, and followed it with a victory over Liberty Christian Academy. In the third round, the Cougars faced Cave Spring, one of the top teams in the state.

“We battled in every match,” Silver said. “We ultimately lost, but I think we showed a lot of grit in that dual.”

The Cougars then defeated Heritage (Lynchburg), a team that finished in the top 10 in Class 3A last season, by a score of 48–35. Wins over Giles and Hidden Valley followed, allowing PCHS to secure a third-place finish in the tournament.

Several wrestlers delivered standout performances, including Ayden Goodman, who went a perfect 6–0 on the day and avenged a loss from the previous week. Freshman Jedidiah Woodyard stepped into the lineup for an absent starter and earned multiple wins that helped swing several key duals in the Cougars’ favor.

“Overall, this entire team is improving,” Silver said. “I can’t wait to see where they end up at the end of the year.”

Jehu Maxwell, Gavin Smith, and Nate Clark continued to lead the squad by picking up big wins and setting the tone throughout the day.