Clear Creek Middle School wrestlers were in Blue Ridge last Tuesday to take on the Fannin County Rebels, and they returned home with a 53-33 league victory.
CCMS was on the road two days later for another league win over Lumpkin County, 70-12.
“Fannin County has a tough middle school wrestling team, and this was a big region win for us,” coach Thomas Glanton said. “We’ve battled having kids out sick and sharing students with other extracurricular activities.”
After a double forfeit at 72 pounds, Fannin took a 12-0 lead with pins at 79 and 86. Bobcats Braelyn Nelson (94) and Carter Ortis (102) got CCMS in the win column with a pin and technical fall, respectively. FCMS notched a decision at 110 before Bobcat Manny Velasquez (118) won by pin.
The Rebels pinned at 125 to open a 21-17 edge. However, CCMS reeled off three straight pins by Bo Cronic (132), Isaiah Goodwin (139) and Angel Garcia (147).
Fannin’s final wins came at 155 and 210 and both were pins. Bobcats Juan Tercero (165) and Fabian Lopez (180) got pins as well, and John Oliver won via forfeit at 285.
“I really have to thank Coach Padgett at Fannin County. He allowed us to get almost everyone on our roster to get at least one exhibition match,” Glanton said. “It has been really tough to get all of our kids (60 plus) mat time this year.
“I was really pleased to see our young guys and girls put forth so much effort and wrestle tough.”
Clear Creek’s nine pins versus Lumpkin were secured by Nelson (94), Nelson Jacinto (110), Velasquez, Cronic, Goodwin, Garcia, Juan Tercero, Lopez and Oliver. Ortis won by major decision, and Gaspar Tercero (125) claimed a win by decision.
Lumpkin forfeited to both Chase Cantrell (79) and Denny Ramirez (210).
This was another one of those important region wins, and our kids really wrestled well,” Glanton said. “There were a couple of matches where we were up by points and got the pin in the final seconds of the match. This is critical in duals where every bonus point can be huge. I was really pleased to see our kids keep grinding until the whistle blew.”