Clear Creek wrestling added some more hardware to its trophy case.
The CCMS Bobcats attended the Mountain League’s dual and traditional tournaments Dec. 9-10. On the first night, the Bobcats captured the duals championship with wins over White County (51-36) and Lumpkin County (52-30).
The following day, CCMS and White County ended the traditional portion of the tournament tied with 109 points apiece and shared the title.
“Wow, what a total team effort,” said a proud head coach Thomas Glanton. “Going into Friday night, the top four teams all had close duals during the regular season. We knew grit would have a big factor in the duals.
“We had a good week of practice, and after some great wrestle-offs, we had some new names in the starting lineup. Throughout the week at practice, we emphasized being tough on bottom and if we get our opponent on their back — keeping them on their back.”
In the finals versus Lumpkin, wrestling got underway at 80 pounds. The Indians jumped to a 15-0 lead with a subsequent decision and two pins. Bobcat Braelyn Nelson (105 pounds) got CCMS on the board with a pin before Nelson Jacinto’s (115) major.
LCMS then won by decision at 125 for an 18-10 edge. However, the Bobcats went on to win seven consecutive bouts to bury the Indians. Following Dawson Richard’s decision at 135, six pins followed and were secured by Gaspar Tercero (145), Joseph Baughman (155), Madden Hopkins (165), Juan Jacinto (175), Blake Becker (190) and Fabian Perez (205).
Trailing 49-18, Lumpkin got pins at 225 and 275 before Bobcat Brantley Fain (75) closed out the title with a decision.
In the semifinals versus White, CCMS got rolling with pins by Fain, Chase Cantrell (85) and Jayson Perez (95), while the Warriors forfeited to Hadley McGregor (80).
Bautista, Richard and Hopkins got three more pins, and Baughman won via decision. Becker scored Clear Creek’s final six points with a pin ahead of three WCMS wins.
White finished third in the final standings over Dawson County.
Sixteen Bobcats reached the medal stand the following day during the traditional tournament and six reached the finals. Walking away as champions were Bobcats Hopkins and Perez, and runners-up included Fain, Nelson, Richard and Rylen Haley (165).
Consolation finals winners and third-place finishers included Clear Creek’s Keigan Brookshire (105), Nelson Jacinto, Baughman, Juan Jacinto, Becker and Waylon Engler (275). Taking fourth were Bobcats Chase Cantrell (85), Adolfo Bautista (125), Tercero and Cade Garland (225).
“Saturday was a total team effort. However, I would like to highlight one of our wrestlers,” Glanton said. “Waylon Engler is a first-year wrestler and has been wrestling heavyweight all season. He has not missed a practice all year and his work ethic is admirable.
“Going into the NGML Tournament, Waylon had come very close to winning a match several times during the season but just couldn’t seal the deal. Not only did he win his first and second match of the season at the traditional tournament, but his second win secured his team the co-championship. This was a great example of hard work, perseverance and laying it on the line for your team.”
Behind CCMS and White in the standings were Dawson County (100 points), Lumpkin County (78), Pickens (49), Union County (42), Fannin County (28) and Towns County (0).