Wrestling coach builds CHS and CMS teams

The Caroline Middle School Wrestling team took part in the Blackhawk Bash at Floyd T. Binns Middle School. Top winners are shown above. Shane Shirley (94lbs) is on the top stand in left photo. James Dosado (120lbs) is on the right stand in the right photo. Other winners included: 4th Place, 195lbs, Aaron Cannon; 4th Place, HWT, Jordan Freeman. In 5th Place: Trevor Beale, Elizabeth Dosado, Chris Poole, Micah High, Gabrielle Harding and Tony Frost. In 7th Place, Koy Klock and Desmond Hogan. (Contributed photo from Caroline Middle School)

 

The final score is in with Snowmageddon the clear winner 17-0 over Caroline High School. Because of the storm that ravaged the East Coast, 17 sporting events for the Cavaliers, including those scheduled for Jan. 26, were either cancelled or postponed. Two things become apparent in a situation like this. First is the realization of how a storm can cause havoc on our schedules, and the second is the amount of sports activity, both varsity and junior varsity, that exists at the high school.

One of the less prominent sports at Caroline is the wrestling program. Coach Swanton referred to this year as a building year for the Cavaliers, with no seniors. The team does have a lot of juniors in addition to freshmen and sophomores, which Swanton said should make for a strong team next year. Although the team does not have as many wrestlers as in previous years, he said he does expect to send six or seven to the regional matches.

A lot of emphasis is focused on establishing the wrestling program at Caroline Middle School, which has been without a team for the past three years. The juniors at the high school are the last of the eighth graders who wrestled middle school before the program was discontinued. Wrestling in middle school is merely an introduction to the sport, so the athletes can get used to it and prepare for the high school level.

Swanton said he is trying to catch the interest of the wrestlers at this level so that the middle school may become a feeder program for the high school. He does not see the need to have them worried about making the weight classes. At present, there are eight or nine eighth graders who could wrestle next year as ninth graders, but the question remains, will they be interested?

The wrestling program at CMS provides a very competitive experience against middle schools in the area that have established teams. Swanton said one of the main problems is lack of facilities to house the sport. The varsity and JV teams practice in a trailer behind the high school. The middle school wrestlers set up mats in the school cafeteria.

 

Basketball

In basketball news, the varsity and JV boys’ teams take on Courtland Jan. 28 at home, while the girls’ varsity and JV travel to Courtland. On Jan. 29, it is the boys’ turn to travel, as they go to King George, while the girls remain at home against King George.

 

Swimming

The boys’ and girls’ varsity swim teams will compete against Courtland at the Spotsylvania YMCA on Jan. 29..

 

-CP Sports Columnist Scott Richards