Seymour’s strategy to do well in today’s wrestling sectional at Jennings County and advance to the regional is to come out fired up and strong.

“Be pumped up for this match,” coach Adam Wolka said.

Winning early makes the road to keep going easier, he said.

If not, he said, “It becomes a little bit more challenging.”

Jennings County High School hosts the tournament, starting at 9 a.m.

It has been a long and trying season because of the interference of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has required teams to be extra cautious in a sport that has maximum contact and which has resulted in periodic interruptions to the schedule.

The top four finishers in each weight class will advance to the regional, and wrestlers were seeded six deep. All of Seymour’s entries received a seed.

The Owls’ lineup for the 10-team event is: 113 pounds, Rolando Baltazar; 120, Ed Ramirez; 126, Chase Rogers; 132, Sam Castetter, 138, Ben Kriete; 145, Alex Schlatterer; 152, Collin Hankins; 160, Lalo Bustos; 182, Hector Ruiz-Rosa; 220, Brody Shipley.

There are four weight classes where Seymour does not have an entry.

Owls with the highest seeds in their brackets are Baltazar and Ruiz-Rosa, both seeded third. Schlatterer is a fourth seed, and the others are all five or six seeds.

Between the schedule adjustments forced because of coronavirus issues with the team and involving opponents and the stress of altering plans and practice, Wolka suggested one of the Owls’ biggest accomplishments was pulling together as a group to be ready to compete in the end-of-season championships.

“I’m just happy we had a group of kids that stuck it out,” Wolka said.