By Allen Hamrick
The Mustang wrestling team has been in some wars on the mats this season but nothing like the battle at the WSAZ tournament this past weekend. Fifty plus middle school teams from different states came to compete against each other in what was to be some of the toughest wrestling the boys have encountered this year. This tournament is like the Super Bowl for middle school competition. A top eight finish here means you’re one of the “baddest” wrestlers on the mat. Finish first and you own the bragging rights in your weight class. This was the first time in several years that the Mustang wrestlers competed in the WSAZ tournament, and eight of the best took to the mats. The CCMS Mustangs started racking up the wins in the first round but soon ran into some walls and just couldn’t reach that level of wrestling they needed to win the matches. That’s not saying other teams had an easy win because the Mustangs fought like badgers.
In the end, none of the Mustangs were top eight but this is a rebuild year for the Mustangs and they have left their mark wherever they wrestled all season long. This was the last match for the Mustang team this season, but during regular season for the CWVAC championship, Cade Hamrick placed 1st, Logan Hobbs was 1st, and Caiden Bryant also took 1st. Ian Dawson took 3rd and Caiden Chapman took 4th. These wrestlers, plus the rest of the team, are putting fear into other teams and are coming back with a vengeance. Next season will be the year of the Mustang.
The Panther wrestling team also sent some of their top wrestlers to the event, but unfortunately, didn’t make the final eight, due in part to sickness. The Panther wrestling team is nearing the end of the season and will be back in action on February 8th in a quad match against Hoover. Then it is on to the LKC’s on February 10th and 11th at Wirt. Regionals will be the weekend after that and then states. If you get the chance and you want to see some great wrestling, come out and catch a match.
