Today is the first official day of practice for the Greene County boys’ basketball and wrestling programs. Jeramie Hinote begins his second season heading the Rams’ basketball program, while Mark Sawhill starts his seventh season as head coach of the wrestling program.

The Ram basketball team returns all five starters and some of the top reserves from the 6-16 season of 2013-14. Sophomore guard Trey Tucker averaged 19.7 points a game as a ninth grader and he was named first team all-conference in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference and first team all-district in Class 3A. Tucker also made 51% of the shots he took from the floor. Seniors Landon Braun and Riah Nelsen are returning starters, as are juniors Tyler Beger and Max Neese. Juniors Mitchell Gorsuch and Sico Boateng played key roles off the bench, and others are expected to make a push for varsity playing time.

Greene County wrestlers have a pair of returning state qualifiers in senior Jordan Challen and junior Tommy Bradshaw. Challen has twice been to Iowa High School State tournaments while Bradshaw qualified for State in Iowa last season after being a Missouri State qualifier his freshman season. Both finished in the top 12 in their weight classes at State a season ago. Other starters and letter winners also return.