Clear Creek wrestlers got their season rolling with a rivalry victory.
The CCMS Bobcats were in Blue Ridge last Thursday to take on Fannin County. By the end of the 16-bout dual, Clear Creek walked away with a 56-33 league win.
The victory was savored by head coach Thomas Glanton, who discussed the day.
“After losing a lot of eighth graders from the team last year, we have a lot of new faces in the lineup,” he said. “We are a relatively young team compared to past years, but you couldn’t tell it effort wise on the mat against Fannin County.”
The match contained 13 pins, and eight were secured by Bobcats. Gauge Crump got CCMS on the board with a pin at 84 pounds, and Rudy Morales (91 pounds) won with a technical fall.
Pins by Bobcats Jason Perez (106) and Daniel Escobar (120) were followed by Keigan Brookshire’s decision at 126. A pair of CCMS pins came at 132 and 138 pounds by Bobcats Jaxon Crater and Hunter Newhart. Fannin did the same in the next two bouts, and CCMS closed out the match by winning three of the last four.
Clear Creek’s Gavin Stogner (154), Madden Hopkins (185) and Fabian Perez (285) all were victorious via pin.
CCMS has a fairly large team this season, and Glaton added a well-known assistant to the staff who is one of the most respected and sought-after coaches in the state.
“We have over 60 kids out, and we are working daily to get better,” Glanton said. “They all got a match at Fannin, and we saw a lot of bright spots. It’s going to be an exciting season watching these kids fight for a starting position.
“We also have a familiar face back on the side of the mat coaching. We are glad to have coach Walt Monroe back home wearing the purple.”
CCMS went on to win the War Eagle Invitational Saturday at Chestatee. It was a traditional round-robin scramble, and Clear Creek was the top team with 535.5 points ahead of second-place Jackson County (528).
Clear Creek’s first-place undefeated wrestlers included Emilee Defoor, Joei Marshall, Rudy Morales, Guidman Bautista, David Luera, Lian Hup, Hunter Newhart, Willian Ramirez, Keigan Brookshire, Madden Hopkins, Brian Santizo
and Fabian Perez.
Runners-up were Madison Arreaga, Allison Hernandez, Kashane Perigo, Jason Perez, Jasper Barr, Daniel Escobar, Bryan Ruiz
Jaxon Crater, Eliseo Ramos
Ben Elmore, Jorge Garcia and Mason Jenkins.
Third-palce finishers included Jolene Lamey, Makayla Green, Mason Hamby, Brantley Fain, Bryson Shore, Chase Cantrell, Sheckler Barton, Edgar Carmona, Masin Adams, Montes Fernando, Gabriel Thawng, Blakely Christian, Jackson Stephens and Kevin Pascual.
Placing fourth were Owen Freeman, Gauge Crump, Lukas Justice, Braxton Newberry, Christian Perez, Peyton Hughes
Grant Griffin, Gavin Stogner and Kloee Kitchen.
Fifth-place wrestlers inluded Anez Perigo, Thomas Sanford, Easton Addie, Noah Hammel, Maynor Lucas, Parker Weis, Joshua Driver, Kian Sanders, Joshua Wright, Jeffrey Willard, Christan Bautista and Caleb Gaspar.
CCMS hosted its first home dual of the season at press deadline.