It’s very early in the high school Winter sports seasons for Greene County High School, but the emphasis on more student participation is paying off. The girls’ basketball program has 33 participants, the boys report 45, and there are 25 wrestlers. Those are in grades 9-12 for each sport.

In all three cases, the numbers are up from a season ago. Boys’ basketball has traditionally had the most participation of the three sports for the Rams, but the girls numbers have increased significantly, as have the number of wrestlers. It was just two seasons ago that Greene County never filled more than seven of the 14 weight classes at any time during the season. Last year saw an increase to 16 participants, and if the coaching staff moved people around, the Rams were able to fill every weight class on occasion. Although body fat testing hasn’t taken place yet to determine a wrestlers’ lowest possible weight class, the increase in numbers increases the odds of filling all 14 weight classes.

Dean Lyons is the girls’ head basketball coach, with Chris Nelson heading the boys’ program, and Mark Sawhill is the head wrestling coach.