A Wrap On The Mat: WGHS Wrestling at State

The varsity wrestlers of Walnut Grove High School headed to Morrow, GA, where they represented the school on and off the mat. These 14 wrestlers went head on with students all over the state of Georgia to compete for the state titles. 
by Makenzie Bass

The varsity wrestlers of Walnut Grove High School headed to Morrow, GA, where they represented the school on and off the mat. These 14 wrestlers went head-on with students from all over the state of Georgia to compete for the state titles.
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Noah Van Name (12) said he prepared for the tournament by “...spending my entire summer and every single day after school at practice, and [attending] practices up in Hoschton at Roundtree Wrestling Academy for extra practice." Graham Dawkins (12) said he “went to a lot of practices and prepared mentally.”

Eli Schuler (11) said he gets "locked in" for matches with “some music or some sprints. You have to heat your body up so your mind can be hot. If your body is cool and your mind is hot, you're not going to perform well.” Devin Kinney (12) added, “I listen to music, like Clairo or Faye Webster—just fun music. Because I’m not going in there trying to beat someone up; I’m just going in there trying to win and have fun.”

Noah Van Name (12) said his favorite part of wrestling is, “The stuff that sucks in the moment is usually the stuff I look back on and am grateful for, like the hard practices or getting my butt beat by some guys. Losing to a guy twice in two weeks and then beating him at the state tournament and knocking him out. Winning is the best part about it.”

​Graham Dawkins (12) stated, “[Just] meeting everyone and getting to see everyone every day. Hanging out with all my friends and being part of the team” was his favorite part.

Mason Bender (11) said the thing that supports him most during his matches is his “wonderful family and friends, and my teammates.” Similarly, Noah Van Name (12) agreed, adding, “The team, my parents, other wrestlers' parents, and obviously the managers. Everyone is there to watch, support, and cheer, or just be a part of it.”

No matter where they placed, everyone on the team has greatly improved from last year. Going back-to-back, the Warriors took first place at Regionals at Eastside High School, and for the first time in school history, the team placed third overall at the team state tournament. Coach Vanstone and Coach Matthews have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into building a wonderful team, filled with not only wins but also teaching their wrestlers leadership skills and personal traits that will last a lifetime.

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