By Stephen Henderson
This weekend the Patrick County High School Cougar wrestling team traveled to Rockingham County High school to participate in a dual team tournament.
The Cougars got their season started off against some tough competition, dropping their first match to the defending 4A champion South East Guilford. The Cougars followed that loss with losses against Glenn and Mount Airy High School.
“I believe that those first three matches were against some extremely good competition and even though we came out on the wrong side of those battles, we competed and didn’t back down,” said Coach David Morrison.
“Our guys stepped up to the test and worked and scrapped with the defending 4A champs and even though we took some lumps, we battled and that means more than anything,” he added.
The second half of the day was more productive in the win-loss column for the Cougars as they defeated Graham by a score of 52-30 and Eastern Alamance 52-32.
“I was proud of the way the guys refocused and got the job done at the end of the day. With young guys, sometimes it is difficult to tell how they will respond to adversity,” Morrison said.
“Some kids will run from the challenge, pull up lame, try to find any excuse or way out that they can and not want to finish or just go into a shell after facing tough competition,” he explained. “And usually there is no shortage of folks that would allow them to take the easy way out or would make excuses for them about the level of competition being to great or one thing or another, but our staff, parents, and fans are committed to our kids being successful—regardless of who we are wrestling,” he said.
“I think having this type of support and driving force behind them is what allowed our kids to respond well after a tough start—they refocused stayed positive and kept working throughout the day and were able to take some positive steps forward. At the end of the day we still have a long way to go and a great deal of improvements to make, but we knew that going in,” he said. “The state tournament is in February, and that is what we are training for,” he added.
Senior Tyler Stanley had an impressive day at Rockingham, winning all five of his matches at 152 pounds; all were pins except one technical fall.
James Lane picked up four wins at 220 and 285 lbs. Brian Lange (113 lbs.), Ethan Rorrer 126 lbs.), AJ Roberson (138 lbs.) and Hunter Kenyon (195 and 220 lbs.) each scored two wins by pins Saturday. Jess Edwards (185 lbs.) won one match by pin, and Colt Martin won one by forfeit and lost one match by one point, 6-5, in triple overtime.
The Cougars host a quad match tonight (Wednesday) with Franklin County, Magna Vista and Bassett High School. Wrestling starts at 5 p.m.
This weekend the Cougar wrestlers will compete at the Hidden Valley Titan Tough Man Tournament Friday and Saturday.
