Submitted by Bruce Boggs
SMS Wrestling Team Trainer/Asst. Coach
Six teams participated in the Central West Virginia Athletic Conference Wrestling Tournament, held at Braxton Middle School this past weekend, including Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Nicholas, Spencer, and Wirt. The Spencer Middle wrestling team was part of a 3-way tie for 1st place, with 3 wins and 2 losses. The tie was broken by criteria, with Clay taking 1st place and Wirt placing 2nd. Spencer ended up in 3rd place, with wins over Braxton, Nicholas, and Clay, and losses to Wirt and Calhoun.
Individually, the Yellow Jackets had 4 undefeated wrestlers earning 1st place awards: Dylan Cottrell, Sam Lawson, Jacob Summers (who finished the season with 14 straight pins), and Sam Whiting.
Going (4 and 1) for the weekend were Luke Hottle and Jacob Maldonado; at (3 and 2) was John Ash. After Michael McCumbers lost to Colby Whiting in the 78-pound challenge match last Wednesday, Michael approached his coaches and said he still wanted to go on Saturday, to be there for his team. Spencer had 6 empty lines on the roster with no names to fill them, so our 70-pound Michael was given the 95-pound position, with directions to not get pinned by his heavier opponents. Michael did just as he was asked, and even though he was sick, he won 2 forfeits and lost 3 times by points, never once letting himself get pinned by opponents who were 28 pounds heavier. Wrestling at the 78-pound spot most of the season, Michael was still giving up 10 pounds, and earned a respectable (13 and 15) record. Colby Whiting finished the weekend at (2 and 3), pinning Moore from Calhoun. Nathan Reynolds had a (1 and 4) day, giving up 10 pounds in the 155-pound spot, and pinning Shane Wine from Braxton.
Earning all of their contested wins by pinning their opponents, were Jacob Summers, Nathan Reynolds, and Colby Whiting.
For the weekend, Spencer's individual dual match record was (36 wins and 14 losses), with 20 pins.
For the completed season, individual dual match records are (360 wins and 204 losses), with 200 pins.
The Spencer Middle wrestling team is losing several 8th graders, as they move up next year to Roane County High School, so they encourage everyone to talk with your friends who are on the team this year, ask them how they liked it and if they had a good time. At the middle school level, being on a team is supposed to be fun, and the SMS wrestling coaches want their team to have a good time, including the overnight trips and the traditional visits to Papa Johns and Taco Bell. The coaching staff emphasizes effort, rather than just looking at wins and losses. If the effort is made, the wins will come, and the individual wrestlers will improve technically, physically, and socially, and help their team in the process.
What else can the wrestling team do for you? During the short middle school season, it was determined through body fat analysis and weight monitoring, that the team collectively lost 10 pounds of squishy fat, and gained 31 pounds of lean, mean, muscle. To the 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, we hope to see you next season!
Thank you to the wrestlers who know TEAM is more than just a word. Thank you to the SMS staff, who don't let academics slide, or unbecoming behavior go without consequence. Thank you to the parents who showed up time and time again, your family & your team are stronger for itâ¦and when 4 vehicles stop on the interstate to help a coach change a flat tire, we must be doing something right, that pit-stop would've made Earnhardt proud.
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