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ENON — There was no area wrestling program looking forward to a great 2008 more than Greenon's.

After the hailstorm that hit them to begin this season, the talented Knights finally have a new head coach and are back on the fast track to success.

Brian Schell has stepped in to replace fifth-year head coach Justin Vondenberg, who resigned after an Ohio High School Athletic Association investigation found evidence he asked students to forge documents. And the Knights have moved past their bump in the road with a renewed focus on the postseason.

"Things are going pretty good," said Schell. "The kids are settling in and getting ready for the next month.

"Especially the seniors; they're ready to go, and they are giving us great leadership," he continued. "Garrett (Lay, 26-6 record) is doing well, and is looking forward to this weekend to get some tough matches. And Nick (Anthony, 25-4) has come a long way in the last month, month and a half."

The Knights are missing the third of their talented senior trio as returning state eighth-placer Josh Schell, Brian's son, has a bum right elbow.

"He hurt it in his first match of the year," said Schell. "He had five tears in there. There's 14 years of never having an injury, and then he gets one in his senior year. It's been tough for him.

"I don't think he'll get cleared in time (for the postseason)," Brian continued. "We're going to go to the senior nationals in March, though. He's still wanting to wrestle in college."

Understandably, the Knights were reeling a bit at first when they were hit with the loss of Vondenberg — a well-respected individual in area coaching circles. But they've proved to be resilient.

"The kids have settled down quite a bit," said Brian Schell. "When all that hit, they were kind of scared. And who wouldn't be. Anything can happen. But we pretty much drew a line in the sand and said, 'We're going from here.' "

Now Lay, Anthony and rapidly improving Travis Richardson have a shot at going to state. For Lay, it would be a third trip in four seasons.

"Mentally, they are ready to go," said Brian Schell.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.