Official practice began yesterday for the Greene County High School boys’ basketball and wrestling squads. In both sports, the head coaches report numbers are up.

Basketball head coach Chris Nelson told Raccoon Valley Radio that 44 boys in grades nine through 12 are out for the sport. Varsity practices are held before school with ninth and JV practices after school. Coach Nelson added the district is short a coach, so he’s pulling double duty with the varsity early in the day, then the JV later in the day.

Zach Beekman is in his first season as a head coach. He said more than 30 wrestlers reported for day one of practice. The increase in numbers continues from a low point in the 2015-16 season when the Rams did not fill more than seven of the 14 weight classes at any time. The 2016-17 numbers were in the middle teens, and more than 20 were out last season. The coach expects all 14 weight classes to be filled this season on a regular basis.