The Blaze opened the 2017-2018 season at home Tuesday night hosting competitive squads from Franklin County and Warren County.
The first dual of the season is usually an eye-opener for those wrestlers who are new to wrestling or at least new to high school wrestling. Nothing is more nerve-racking for a high school age athlete than stepping on the mat for the first time in a real match. All those weeks of practice and all the talks from coach just don’t quite prepare you for going out there on your own….. in front of everyone. It’s a fear that every wrestler has to face. What if I get beat? This kid looks huge! Does this singlet really look ok?
It was clear that Tuesday night, the Blaze were prepared! It’s amazing to see a guy win his first match! Wrestling is a lot of hard work, sacrifice and discipline. Getting your hand raised is the ultimate reward for all of the blood, sweat and tears! For all of those new wrestlers who won their first match, it feels good doesn’t it?
The Blaze opened the night with a few exhibitions with Franklin County. Exhibition winners were Jacob Ford, Gabe Scruby, Fischer Burke, and Jaylan Hughes. The dual started at 220 with Ashton Groustra getting his first pin in his first high school match! That set the tone for the rest of the team. The next matches were six pins in a row from Michael Arnal-Brown, Alex Rose, Austin Marlatt, Aaron Fisher, Daniel Bradford and Jalen Brown. Gabe Gomez followed with a tech fall and Brooks Sacharczyk and Spencer Layne got pins. Final Score – Blackman 77 – Franklin Co 6
The next dual with Warren County was more of the same. Blackman had 9 pins by Adams, Jeremiah Savage, Marlatt, Dylan Stebbins, Bradford, Landon Fowler, Ryan Heath, Spencer Layne and Jamil Hiughes. Warren county gave up four forfeits at 113, 126, 153, and 160. Blackman gave up one pin.
Exhibition match winners with Warren County were Brooks Sacharczyk, Michael Arnal-Brown and Rieley Jacob.
Photos of these matches will be available soon.
For now, it’s time to enjoy Thanksgiving and spend some quality time with family and friends! Blackman is back in action December 1st in Memphis at the Blackhorse Invitational.
Happy Thanksgiving and Go Blaze!!