Wrestling, when done by the rules at the high school, college and Olympic levels, is as grueling a sport as you will see anywhere.
While covering Bainbridge High School Bearcats wrestling the past several years, I have witnessed first hand how totally exhausted wrestlers are following a match.
Coach Roy Mathews has built a strong wrestling program at BHS. His 2005-06 team is strong in virtually every class and every weight division.
The team leader is Ricky Sheppard, a senior wrestling in the 189-pound division. He has been dominant, winning the majority of his matches by pin.
Senior leadership is also being provided by 130-pound division wrestler Lester Haire and 215-pound division wrestler Cameron Jones.
Senior leadership is extremely important in any sport, but it is probably even a little more important in a grueling sport like wrestling.
While Sheppard, Haire and Jones are veterans, there are probably more freshmen and sophomores on this season’s team than on any other team in recent memory. In fact, there are more freshmen and sophomores than upperclassmen on the team.
Top freshmen, who have won consistently all season, include 103-pound division competitor Hunter Bulger, 145-pound division competitor Gustavo Estala, 160-pound division competitor Jacory Miller, and 275-pound division competitor Ben Reynolds.
Sophomore Timothy Greene, a 140-pound division wrestler, has also been a major contributor with big wins all season.
The most impressive thing about the performances of Bearcats wrestlers this season has been the way they have won.
Some of their wins have come by decisions, but most of them have come by pin.
If you think pinning both of an opponents shoulders on the mat is easy, try it some time. It is extremely difficult.
Football coaches like for their athletes to get involved in wrestling because it helps them build strength and improves their agility. It can help an athlete build stamina for any sport.
If all you have ever watched is professional wrestling on television, you are missing a great sport.
While professional wrestling is, in some ways, exciting, it is basically a show designed to entertain.
Professional wrestling competitors have to be good athletes to take the kinds of flips and falls they are subjected to.
Mathews and coach David Kirkland, who assists him and heads up the Bainbridge Middle School wrestling program, are doing an outstanding job of building a strong wrestling program in our schools.
Leesburg’s Lee County High School Trojans, a fellow Region 1AAAA member, have been the class of Southwest Georgia wrestling for a number of years.
The Bearcats are gaining, however. They have won some matches against Lee County this season and have more than held their own against them overall.
I congratulate coach Mathews and coach Kirkland. They are instilling character in the young men they are leading.
Wrestling Gear
I was a former student of these coaches. They have been great mentors. Yeah the practice was hard but its worth it because it prepares you for the match and somehow maybe life. I had some great experiences in this sport which I will alway remember. I love and miss this sport.