Linganore’s top-ranked senior Ethan Arneson (175) improved on last year’s Class 4A-3A state runner-up finish last month by winning that crown, a feat that has earned him Upper Weight Wrestler Of The Year honors for Legacy Wrestling.
On the way to winning this year's Class 4A-3A state crown, Arneson scored an 86-second championship pin over Severna Park senior Nathan Kohler, who was an Anne Arundel County and Class 4A-3A East Region champion.
Arneson had reached the finals on falls in 2:24, 3:06 and 3:23, improving his record on the year to 37-0 with 32 pins, a major decision, a decision and two forfeits.
“To finish my wrestling career off like this and to have all of the hard work payoff is just super exciting,” said Arneson, who has signed with Shippensburg University to play football. “I’ve learned what it feels like to not be first, and I don’t like that feeling. I’ve learned that there are always going to be people who work hard, and you have to out-work them.”
A returning three-time Frederick County champion, Arneson had also placed fourth at the states as a sophomore and won a pair of regional titles in three appearances in that event’s final.
Arneson earned his county title following a first-period pin in his semifinal bout and a championship, 9-5, decision over junior Jacob Bell of Catoctin, who finished second in his Class 2A-1A West Region.
A week later at the Class 4A-3A West Regionals, Arneson reached the finals on pins in 27 seconds and 4:25, the latter against Sherwood’s eventual fourth-place finishing junior Brendan Heyer, who was fourth in Montgomery County.
Arneson earned his regional crown with a 23-second fall in his title bout against senior Jon Aron of Whitman, a Montgomery County champion.
In February, Linganore (17-1) won a battle of defending state duals champions, 34-31, over 19th-ranked South River for their second straight Class 3A state duals crown.
Arneson was a double-winner during the state duals' semifinals and finals with a pin and a forfeit for the Lancers, who also earned a semifinal victory, 58-15, over Bel Air of Harford County.
Among Arneson's best victories was a fall in 1:48 over fifth-ranked Scott Anderson of Archbishop Curley, a transfer from Northeast-Anne Arundel who has placed third at regions and fifth at the Class 2A-1A state tournament.
Coached by his father, Ben, a 1994 Linganore graduate who was a Class 4A-3A state runner-up at 140 pounds, Ethan Arneson 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 two state titles as a team and as father and son is amazing. Winning a state title for myself is very important to both of us."
Ethan 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,” Ben Arneson said. “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.”
Ethan 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. Ethan Arneson will major in business at Shippensburg, according to Ben Arneson.
"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.”
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