Although it’s only one month into the season, the wrestling team is off to a strong start this year. The team went to the J.J Pearce Tournament on Nov. 12, and won first place as a team. Leading the team this season is first year coach Clay Goodloe.
“I think our first success is the result of the wrestlers putting in hours of practice, and planning ahead,” Goodloe said.
Goodloe said he believes this is only a warm up for the season that lies ahead.
“We used this match to try out different things,” Goodloe said. “The way it turned out has us feeling optimistic about the rest of the season.”
Goodloe said he feels this year has promising talent and that they have great potential for the year.
“We have a group of very strong and dedicated wrestlers this year,” Goodloe said. “We have a tight-knit core group that puts in the effort necessary to make sure they’re in prime condition for the next match.”
Goodloe has his sights on the upcoming match that will be hosted at the school, the Taylor Webb Classic on Dec. 10. He said that this will be a decisive match.
“I think that’s when we’ll really be able to gauge how well the season will go,” Goodloe said. “But from what I’ve seen, we can only expect great things from these boys.”
One of the winning wrestlers was senior Danny McCaffrey, who received gold as an individual, in addition to the team’s overall placing
“After spending around two hours a day running and wrestling, it was great to be successful as an individual and a team,” McCaffrey said. “I think we’re set to do very well this season.”
McCaffrey not only excels in his wrestling endeavors, but according to Goodloe he is also an exceptional student. Goodloe saids these two facts are not unrelated.
“When you’re part of a team, you know that you have to do your part and be prepared for the next match,” Goodloe said. “This translates to the classroom, when preparing for tests in a similar way. I feel that I’m not only coaching on how to wrestle, but how to be successful as a person.”
