When the 2017 wrestling season rolls around, the Cyclones will be under new co-coaches Eddie Morrell and Travis Pennell.
Pennell, who has been involved with EHS wrestling for the past four years as both a volunteer coach and an assistant, is originally from New Jersey where he first got into wrestling in the first grade. Competing for Holy Cross High School, Pennell made visits the state tournament while his school won state championships.
Morrell, who will be coming off a four-year coaching stint at Happy Valley High School, started wrestling at Elizabethon in 1974 under legendary coach John Klock. A sophomore in high school, Morrell moved to Ohio where he made it to the state tournament his senior year, placing fourth. Morrell’s wrestling background is in the Greco-Roman and freestyle forms. From 1979-1982, Morrell was a Southern Regional freestyle champion before making it to nationals his junior year of high school.
Pennell has been designated as coach over the boys’ program while Morrell will be over the girls. However, the coaches said it will be a combined effort when it comes to the program as a whole.
“I am really excited to join Eddie as coaches,” said Pennell. “We are going to approach this as a co-coaching experience. I will rely on Eddie, and he will rely on me as we teach the kids.”
Morrell is excited as the 2017 wrestling closes in.
“I am beyond excited,” he said. “It is rare to have the opportunity to have two coaches who are of like minds. We both have the desire to see the program to succeed.”
The two new coaches will be taking over for former head coach Donnie Shipley who will not be returning this season. Both Morrell and Pennell credited Shipley for growing the EHS wrestling program into an “eye opener.”
“School administration definitely saw the success that Donnie had with the program,” said Pennell. “They are really behind the program. And with the two of us, I believe we can continue to grow the level of wrestling at Elizabethton High School.”