Linganore senior Ethan Arneson will sign with Shippensburg University to play football at 10 a.m. on Wednesday during a wrestling season when he’s the top-ranked Legacy Wrestling favorite to win the Class 4A-3A state title at 175-pounds.
Arneson takes a record of 24-0 with 22 pins into Thursday’s Class 3A West Regional Dual Meet Tournament, where the 12th-ranked Lancers (13-1) begin defense of their Class 3A state dual meet crown against rival Blake, with Sherwood and Tuscarora meeting in the other semifinal.
But Arneson also starred as a gridiron running back, totaling 6,085 rushing yards for 72 touchdowns, scoring twice more on receptions, and helping the Lancers to a pair of state runner-up finishes.
"As much as he loves wrestling, Ethan has a greater love for football,” said his father and wrestling coach, Ben Arneson. “Ethan has had a successful career in both, but he's just been wrestling to make himself a better football player.”
A returning Class 4A-3A state runner-up who has also placed fourth at states, Arneson is a two-time Frederick County champion and has captured one regional title in two appearances in that event’s final.
Arneson counts among his best victories a fall in 1:48 over fifth-ranked Scott Anderson of Archbishop Curley, a transfer from Northeast-Anne Arundel who placed third at regions and fifth at the Class 2A-1A state tournament.
Coached by his father, Ben, a 1998 Linganore graduate who was a Class 4A-3A state runner-up at 140 pounds, Arneson recently earned his 100th career victory with a 12-1 major decision over Winters Mill’s Matthew Pawley.
“Being coached by my father has really helped our relationship to grow. I wouldn’t be where I am without him,” Ethan Arneson said. “Winning a state title last year as a team and as father and son was amazing and winning it again this year would place a cherry on top. Winning a state title for myself is very important to both of us.”
The Lancers also feature eighth-ranked sophomore Josh Arthur, 12th-ranked junior Brennan Considine (132) and 20th-ranked sophomore Cash Wheat, who placed second, third and sixth at last year’s state tournament. The Lancers also boast juniors Dylan Rohn (144) and Peyton Picket (157), who are ranked 17th and 18th.
Arneson is a powerfully constructed wrestler with a sculpted upper torso whose strength has been developed, in part by, literally working on a farm.
“My brother and I have a farm for beef cows that we raise. It’s a hobby for us, and Ethan helps us out. Ethan makes coaching easy, no matter what he’s doing,” said Ben Arneson, the Lancers’ coach since 2016. “Ethan works hard every day to be his best, knowing that whatever he does, he will get a return. Coaching Ethan is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done with him as a father. We’ve really enjoyed this time growing together.”
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