The Greyhound wrestlers have stayed plenty busy over the summer, focusing on both the present, future, and even the program’s past.
In June, the Mat Hounds spent multiple days at Chattanooga University’s wrestling camp, going 5-5 against stout competition. Hunter McCleskey, Noah Pieterick and Luke Thompson were named to the camp’s all-star team. While in Chattanooga, the Greyhounds also got to spend time with former JCHS state champion wrestler and current UFC fighter Torrez Finney, who resides and trains in Chattanooga.
“You learn a really, really great technique. You learn from so many great wrestlers and coaches,” Greyhounds head coach Adam Gillhouse said. “But even bigger, our guys got 12-13 matches in a four-day span. Getting that extra mat time, it’s huge.”
That extra time is key for the Greyhounds, who have a strong core of young wrestlers returning from a season ago.
“With where we are as a program, we have so many young guys coming back,” Gillhouse said. “They got great experience last year, but all of those guys in June have gotten almost half a season worth of matches. Giving them that extra experience to progress; that’s huge.”
But the summer is hardly over for the Greyhounds, who on July 16-17 will host a technique camp at Turner Woods Elementary School that is open to anyone interested in the community. The camp will host wrestlers in grades K-12 in the morning with the afternoon from 1-3 p.m. for grades 7-12.
It will be led by two wrestlers who have found success on a high level. Francis Morrissey is one who will be leading the sessions with a career that most recently has included two GHSA state titles, two NAIA All-American honors, and a top-15 national finish. Also on hand will be Darby Weidl, one of the top women’s wrestlers in program history at Ottawa University.
