The challenges were multi-fold in the Appalachian Mountains for the Greyhounds on the wrestling mat over the weekend.
Jones County found itself in a field of approximately 50 teams at the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple in Asheville, N.C. The Greyhounds not only faced teams from multiple states but also had to confront the challenge of stamina as well with matches over a span of two days.
Teams wrestled on Friday night before going at it again most of the day on Saturday. It was a dress rehearsal in a way for next month, when sectional and state individual tournaments will pit wrestlers in matches over the course of a long day.
“It’s probably one of the most taxing tournaments on them.
It’s about a five-hour drive up there, and then they weigh in and wrestle that night. You don’t get back to the hotel until 10 or 10:30 that night, and you have to be back up to weigh in at 7:30 the next morning,” Greyhounds head coach Adam Gillhouse said. “We finished championship matches 6:30 on Saturday. It’s a long two days, but it’s a big deal to do that before you get into the state tournament when it matters.”
Multiple Greyhounds were factors in Saturday’s later matches. Arrie Martin and Noah Pieterick claimed runner-up finishes in the 165- and 144-pound divisions with Jacob Skinner placing third at 190 with Luke Thompson doing likewise at 215 pounds.
“It wasn’t bad. There are some things we wish we could have done differently, could have done better, but we’re proud of how they competed,” Gillhouse said. “They went up there, and all of them faced some adversity in different ways and responded well.”
Skinner’s showing came on a weekend where he reached a milestone with his 100th career win. Martin also won his 150th match earlier this season for the Greyhounds, who wrestle Jan. 3 in the Wesleyan Duals before the region duals on Jan. 10.
