A-J wrestling looks to have bright future

No would would argue that the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School wrestling team is small in numbers this season.

Hats off to the grapplers who have remained with the program and stuck it out.

This is not to put any fault for the dismal turnout because of the efforts of first-year Wildcat wrestling coach Eric Massey, who brings a lot to the wrestling table.

A former A-J grappler himself, Massey has been involved in the A-J Junior Wildcat Wrestling Club.

Speaking of that A-J Junior Wildcat Wrestling Club, it is very impressive. Hats off to Rollie Hawk, Grover Mays and others involved that have boys and girls in the community competing in tournaments throughout the area as well as other states.

Wrestling is a sport that matches an individual’s strength against another. It’s not a team sport, it’s that lone individual on the mat against another individual, matching their elusive skills. The team overall score does count, but the individual is in the limelight.

My senior year at Murphysboro High School was the first year for the sport there.

I came out that first year and suffered a season-ending injury several weeks into practice before the season began. I missed competing on the mat, but developed a lifelong interest.

But to me, it’s unblievable how interest in the community has stirred and the number of kids that are involved and making those treks to tournaments many miles away on the weekends.  That’s true dedication to the sport.

The A-J Junior Wildcat Wrestling Club grapplers are putting A-J wrestling on the map.

Coach Massey hang on. Those grappler enthusiasts will one day become true, blue Wildcat mat people.

I know it’s an old coaches’ cliche always to say “wait until next year, we will be better.” I really believe the future is bright for the sport at A-J.

The interest and numbers are there. It wouldn’t even surprise me to see a state champion grappler somewhere lurking in the shadows. And, possibly even more than one.

That’s not to rule out an A-J girl in the future capturing the coveted crown either.