East Coweta Wrestling: CRWA CHAMPIONS 12-11-10

Today we travel due south to Pacelli High School in Columbus, for the annual CRWA tournament. Today was another day for firsts, and that's what we brought back home, a 1st place trophy. Another first, is the fact that we entered twelve wrestlers and all twelve finished top four, with six guys getting a first or second. If that's not enough, we have seven wrestlers with their first varsity medals. Basaraba, also gets his first varsity win and a medal.

       Let's run down the action of the day, starting with our freshman Durham at 103. This little guy has came on the scene in a big way and at the right time. He started the day rolling with a pin in his first match, and then piled up the points on Pacelli, he gets the tech. In the final he takes a loss to a good Newnan wrestler to place second. We move to 112, where Nelson is easing back on the mat after some time away. He takes a close loss to Hardaway 18-16 and then wins the next two and brings a third place medal home.
     Next at 119 J. Krzysiak can go three rounds with about anyone. He starts the day out with a tough loss, but comes back the next round with a great o.t. victory against Pike County. In his third outing, he gets the pin fall before falling to Northgate for a fourth place finish. Moving up to 125, we have a machine, and today that machine is in top gear, hitting on all eight. Higgins wrapped up Newnan & LaGrange both with pin falls before they knew what happened. He brings home first place hardware and a cool tee shirt for his efforts. Speaking of hitting on all eight.
          Next at 130, we have a balanced, well lubed Crank, spinning in total control. Crankshaw tooled himself into Beast Mode today, pinning both Pike and LaGrange to reach the final. Facing the top seeded Northgate wrestler in the final, this Beast will not be denied. Crankshaw, wrestling his best to date, brings home another first place medal. We have to skip 135, but hope to see E. Shea back on the mat soon. At 140 we have Ragland, who lost his first match but comes back with a big win against LaGrange. He battles hard in his final match but will settle for a fourth place medal of his own.
     At 145, Basaraba, also places fourth at his first varsity outing. This guy will be good with more time under his belt. We move on up to 152 now, Z. Krzysiak, first year varsity starter, gets a second place finish in a good day of wrestling. At 160, Rogerson went at it hard all day. He has the black eyes and shoe prints on his face to prove it. He started with a pin fall in his first outing before he was Askey's next victim. Taking the loss with a smile and most of his teeth, he smacks down his next two opponents to get his own third place finish.
     Going on up, the tree trunk, I mean Pullen at 171, who just got his first varsity win four days ago. He now has a third place medal, winning three of four matches, all with pins. Moving up to Reeves at 215, we get another first. Not like the other firsts at all, but still a first for him. Today Reeves is tested, a first for this year, goes deep into the third round, another first of the year. Wrestling a very good Calloway opponent, Reeves is down 9-4 well into the third and very tired. This is the place in a match, or in life itself, we find out who we are. Are we going to be a quitter, or are we going to rise up to be the Champion that is in us all. Reeves chooses the latter, and brings the ECHS faithful to their feet when he pins his opponent to stay undefeated. He keeps his focus and and goes three more rounds in the final to get the first place honors at 215.
     We finish the day with our light/heavyweight Mathis. He runs off two impressive wins against Newnan and LaGrange before running into a huge Pike County wrestler. Nursing an injured knee, he battles hard but brings home a second place in the Hvyweight class. All together these twelve warriors piled up points all day long, leaving runner up Northgate and third place Newnan wishing they had all the 1st that we have.

This Wednesday, 12-15-10 at 5:30, we will have the County Championships at our place. This match is huge, for this County, and for this team. We are sure to have more first to happen this night, don't be the one to miss them. Our kids only get a handful of chances to make their own firsts, I would not miss them for the world. Come out and support this team Wednesday night, and you will leave a fan for life! See ya there!