Last Sunday evening at Clyde a High School, members of the 2015-16 wrestling program were congratulated for their hard work rendered on behalf of the Flier wrestling team.
While state champion Garit Witt garnered the most awards, several other individual wrestlers were praised by coach Robert Blackburn.
The young team managed to send eight wrestlers to districts. Of these student-athletes, three were freshmen, one was a sophomore, and two were juniors.
Blackburn urged these returning district qualifiers and all of his returning wrestlers to seriously take on the challenge of becoming great. The boys were reminded about open mats on Mondays and Wednesdays and participating in freestyle tournaments later in the spring. Attending the Clyde wrestling camp with a nationally known wrestler there to teach was also emphasized.
Coach Blackburn also joined the audience in applauding the 3.2 GPA of his team.
Special awards went to senior Derek Dyer (Lesley West Award), junior Eric Middleton (Jim Carrothers’ Award), sophomore Kris Mange (Most Improved), and state champion Garit Witt (Most Takedowns)
Information also was shared about selling raffle tickets for the program’s Reverse Raffle on Aug. 13 as well as securing a block of state tournament tickets from Benita Blackburn beginning in November.
Garit Witt also presented Coach Blackburn with a team gift for his hard work throughout the season. An emotional embrace of the two brought cheers from those in attendance.
