Wrestlers Topple Opponents
EDDY GIFFORD/Dade County Sentinel
Cayden Cooper takes down his opponent in Thursday’s home match against Coosa.
By EDDY GIFFORD
Sports Reporter
The Wolverines wrestling team hosted Gordon Central and Coosa Thursday, Dec. 9 for a tri-match. Dade County would get a win over the Warriors 78-6, with Gordon Central’s lone win coming at 106 pounds due to a forfeit by the Wolverines.
Coosa came into their match up with the Wolverines with wins over Chattooga and Fort Payne, Ala., so a win over the Eagles would give Dade County a leg up in Area standings. Dade County was able to defeat the Eagles 60-16.
Saturday the Wolverines traveled to Pepperell for the annual Pepperell Duals. Dade would face Holy Innocent, Adairsville, and Cedar Town B in pool competition before moving onto bracket competition. Dade would win all three match ups, including a close match with a tough Adairsville team by the score of 42-39.
In the first round of bracket competition the Wolverines faced a hot Pepperell squad with several big wins under their belt. Dade would win the dual 52-25. The big match was at 182 pounds where sophomore Landon Williams faced returning state champion Matthew Waddell. The match was neck and neck all the way through the final seconds when Landon scored a takedown to secure the win and advance to the finals.
The Wolverines ran into a buzz saw in the finals against Rockmart and finished in second place. The Wolverines are 19-4 on the year and will compete in the Rockmart Duals this Friday night, and at the Armuchee Invitational this Saturday before taking a week off for Christmas.
Coach Jeff Poston said, “I thought we wrestled well, but we still have a focus problem. We are all about it when we feel like it, but when it has been a long day, and we are tired, we cannot seem to get everyone on the same page. This group has the ability to wrestle for a state championship, and they are definitely growing in the right direction. Our focus over the next month has to be on zeroing in on finishing each day, no matter how long that day might be.”