PREVIEW: Wrestlers look for another big year

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

The Rural Retreat wrestling team placed sixth in the Group A state meet last year. While that in itself would have to be considered a ultra-successful season, it wasn’t quite as good as the season before that. That shows how far the Indian wrestling program has come in recent years.
The Indians placed second in the state in ’06. And last year’s sixth place finish also was a outstanding season.
11th year Coach Rick Boyd also has high hopes for this year’s squad as well. Although he claims there’s not as many obvious standouts that last year’s team contained, the coach likes the overall quality of the team. “We’re solid from top to bottom,” he said.
He he’s not worrying about filling the weight classes because of the numbers. “We’ve got more than we’ve ever had,” said Boyd, with a smile.
The team has approximately 25 members, but several of them are from the middle school, the coach pointed out.
Leading the way will be senior David Harrison, who placed third in state last year.
Also returning to the team after qualifying for the state tourney are: seniors Hunter King and Matthew Burch, juniors Kyle Testerman and Spencer Shillig, sophomores James Jones, sophomore Matthew Scott and William Wright.
Wyatte Pickett, who is recovering from a football injury, returns to the team after an absence of a few years. He was an All-American in wrestling as a middle schooler. Harrison also was an All-American as a middle schooler and as a sophomore.
In addition to Harrison and Pickett, there were at least six others who played on the successful football team that extended in season to the region finals, thereby joining wrestling practice late.
But the coach was not concerned because he said most of the wrestlers work on their sport the year-round.
Boyd said the team to beat in the Hogoheegee District this year will be Chilhowie. He said the team’s goal is to win the region and knock off defending state champ Glenvar in the process.
Rural Retreat will join Region C this season for the first time. The Hogoheegee District wrestling teams have been in Region D for many years to help balance that region, but have gone to Region C. This aligns wrestling with all of the other sports in the district, which have long been in Region C.
Crockett is assisted by former wrestlers of his, David Crockett and Levi Davidson.
Here is the 2007-08 Rural Retreat wrestling schedule:
Date Opponent Site
Dec. 1 tourney Ashe Co.
Dec. 8 tourney Myrtle
Dec. 29 tourney Grundy
Jan. 9 Castlewood Away
Jan. 12 tourney Glenvar
Jan. 16 George Wythe Home
Jan. 19 Northwood Away
Jan. 30 Chilhowie Away
Feb. 2 tourney home
Feb. 6 Glenvar Home