Saturday, January 6, 2018, Cass wrestling achieved a win against Carrollton in the Area 7-AAAAA Duals, launching an exciting beginning of their season and qualifying the team for state. Coach Koontz viewed everything before the Saturday match as just “warm-ups,” as the match concluded with a 43-31 score, consisting of five pins against Carrollton and only one on Cass.

Now that Cass is wrestling for a state title, Koontz is implementing previous strategies and practices to ensure their win this upcoming weekend in Macon. They plan to defeat Carrollton once more, as he describes that Carrollton “definitely stepped up.” The Trojans also eliminated Woodland, who won last year’s state dual, in the semifinals, resulting in their absence from the state duals. Koontz explained that they are in a “very tough region” and are “ecstatic and still on cloud nine” from their accomplishment.

The Colonels later forfeited their remaining matches to avoid any injuries and losses, to keep their team on track for their Mount Everest of matches next weekend.

Koontz plans on increasing their practices for the next three days, as they “have things they need to go fix and make sure [our] cardio is as high as it can be.”

Seniors Seven Richards and Tripp Breeden are bound to make their last state championship their greatest, and a handful of juniors (Derrick Smith, Rett Moore, Nick Mills, Ben Mills, and Beau Smith) are continuing with another memorable win. Along with these wrestlers are sophomores, including Hunter Rees, who was called out alongside Beau Smith for their efforts.

One relative of a team member expressed his happiness by saying “Proud of all these young men. [They] all fought like champs today.” Others expressed how proud and ecstatic they were of their major win.

Students, staff, and parents are very proud of the Cass High wrestling team and will cheer them on in their future efforts and endeavors. Congratulations from the Trumpet staff, and good luck to the wrestling team who will compete in the State Duals beginning Thursday, January 11, 2018. Go Colonels!