Middle School Grapplers Return to Mat for Wrestling Action

The Avery Middle School wrestling team shook off a long period of inactivity following the holidays and inclement weather with conference and regional matches.

Avery Middle School journeyed to Mitchell High School last Thursday for a dual meet with the combined Mitchell County middle school squad. Avery had only had one full practice within the past three weeks due to inclement weather as well as the holidays, but the team still wrestled hard as Mitchell captured a 63-18 win.

Three Panthers were victorious with pins in three matches during the night’s action. Harley Rash won at 112 pounds, while Zack Freeman captured the win at 119 pounds and Colby Flynn pinned his opponent at 160 pounds to take care of business.

“The guys have come to practice and take it seriously. We had only one day to prepare for this match. We lost the match but we did well,” Avery Middle School wrestling coach Daniel Jimenez said after the evening’s bouts. “We’re progressing well despite having such a long time without wrestling. We had some kids get pinned, but many of the matches went to the third period.”

Avery’s wrestling squad, comprised of student-athletes from both Avery Middle and Cranberry Middle School, offers a precursor of the teamwork that is expected once those students advance into the high school ranks.

“The team has worked on its moves and has really stepped up,” Coach Jimenez added. “These kids will be excellent contributors and have a lot of potential toward the high school level. The kids are green but they continue to learn and work extremely hard.”

An excitement over the potential of today’s middle school student-athletes is shared among all the members of the coaching staff.

“We’ve impressed quite a bit during the year, and a lot of the guys have progressed and improved from practice to practice,” Panthers coach Jesse Pope said of the squad. “Technically, they’re wrestling as well as any other middle school team we’ve wrestled, but I believe they’re a strong group of wrestlers and we’re excited to send our eighth graders up to compete at the high school next season.”