By Coach Mark Green
The Appling County Pirates Wrestling Team just completed a very successful season. It started off with the most challenging schedule to date with over 60 individual matches against some very tough competition. As soon as a very successful football season was finished, the wrestling Pirates got their full squad together and began to compete in a number of tournaments, placing in all of them. On December 10 they traveled to Morgan County for the first time and placed 4th against some of the more elite schools in the north. The following weekend they placed again in the Treutlen tournament and finished the tournament section of the schedule by winning the Brantley Bash, which included most of the teams from our region.
Pictured above is the Appling County Pirate wrestling team.
Catch a ride aboard the Pirate ship
The Pirates made it to state as a team for the first time in school history by finishing as Area Runner-Ups behind a very strong Toombs County team. The Pirates traveled to Darien on Jan. 7 to compete in team area. They started the meet off by beating Brantley County and Pierce County before matching up with Toombs in the finals. The Toombs County match ended up being one of the most exciting matches that any of the wrestlers have ever been involved with. Trailing behind in points and needing a win to keep the Pirates in the match, Cody Tillman beat his opponent by a technical fall, ending the bout in a tie. The final decision to determine who the victor was came down to Toombs having more pins during the match. Vidalia came in third and as the rules dictate they had the option to challenge the Pirates for second place since neither team faced each other during the meet. The Pirates put the emotional loss behind them and finished off the Indians to advance them to state.
The Pirates traveled to Macon on Jan. 13 to compete in the team state duels as mentioned earlier for the first time in school history. The Pirates started the tournament off with a win against Fitzgerald. The Pirates got a little pay back against Calhoun in the next round. The Pirates ended up finishing in the top 8; not a bad showing for their first appearance. The competing team at area and state meets included: 106-Marques Thomas, 113-Brent Johnson, 120-Kaleb Nail, 126-Cody Tillman, 132-Chase Johnson, 138-Trey Newkirk, 138-45-Andrew Boatright, 145-52-Austin Carter, 152-Ian Carter, 160-Tony Skipper, 160-A. J. Fordham, 170-Kevin Cooper, 182-Sam Ryan, 195-Brian Cauley, 195-Blake Spell, 220-Emanuel Ryan and 285-Mike Jones.
During the season the wrestlers got a chance to play coach by helping the coaches out with the annual mini-clinic. The mini-clinic is a way to get the young kids interested in the sport of wrestling. Kids ages four through fifth grade are able to learn from the Appling Co. Pirate Wrestling team and then take this knowledge and compete against one another in the same venue as the Pirates. Every year the Pirates and the future Pirates have a great time and it is a great opportunity to take a break from the wrestling season. The Pirates would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all the sponsors, the parents and the young athletes for being a part of the event. For the first time the Appling Co. Recreation Department will have wrestling as a sport during the month of June. Anyone interested can contact the Appling Co. Recreation Department for more information.
The kids that compete in the mini-clinic get to wear their wrestling shirts and come down on the mat and meet the Pirates during Senior Night. The following are this years seniors: Chase Johnson, Kevin Cooper, Andrew Boatright, A. J. Fordham, Mike Jones, Emanuel Ryan, Demarcus Mincey and Tony Skipper.
When the team events are over the wrestlers start moving to the weight class they want to compete during individual state. The Pirates wrestled off for team spots and the following made up the team headed to individual area: 106-Marques Thomas, 113-Kaleb Nail, 120-Brent Johnson, 126-Chase Johnson, 132-cody Tillman, 138-Austin Carter, 145-Demarko Dixon, 152-Ian Carter, 160 Tony Skipper, 170-Kevin Cooper, 182-Sam Ryan, 195-Brian Cauley, 220-Eamnuel Ryan and 285-Mike Jones. The top four from area go on to sectionals hosted in Dublin and the top eight go on to state in Atlanta. The following are the results of each wrestler throughout their competition: 106-Marques Thomas: second area, eighth sectional and state qualifier; 113-Kaleb Nail: area champion, fourth sectional and state qualifier; 120-Brent Johnson: fifth area; 126-Chase Johnson: area champion, third sectional and state qualifier; 132-Cody Tillman: second area and sectional qualifier; 138-Austin Carter: second area and sectional qualifier; 145-Demarko Dixon: area champion, fifth sectionals and state qualifier; 152-Ian Carter: area champion, seventh sectional and state qualifier; 160-Tony Skipper: fourth area and sectional qualifier; 170-Kevin Cooper: sixth area;182-Sam Ryan: third area and sectional qualifier; 195-Brian Cauley: third area and sectional qualifier; 220-Emanuel Ryan: second area, fifth sectionals and top eight state and 285-Mike Jones: sixth area.
During the individual state competition in Atlanta the Pirates had one wrestler medal. Chase Johnson at the 126-weight class got to stand on the podium by placing sixth. It is a rare opportunity and a great achievement. Johnson’s dedication and hard work throughout his career as a Pirate has paid off.
The coaches would like to thank everyone who has had a hand in the program. Every little bit counts and contributes to the goals the wrestling program has set.
The Pirates have had a very good year and have high hopes for the future and would like to invite all the young future Pirates to get onboard the Pirate ship and get involved with the wrestling program at any level.
The Pirates traveled to Macon on Jan. 13 to compete in the team state duels as mentioned earlier for the first time in school history. The Pirates started the tournament off with a win against Fitzgerald. The Pirates got a little pay back against Calhoun in the next round. The Pirates ended up finishing in the top 8; not a bad showing for their first appearance. The competing team at area and state meets included: 106-Marques Thomas, 113-Brent Johnson, 120-Kaleb Nail, 126-Cody Tillman, 132-Chase Johnson, 138-Trey Newkirk, 138-45-Andrew Boatright, 145-52-Austin Carter, 152-Ian Carter, 160-Tony Skipper, 160-A. J. Fordham, 170-Kevin Cooper, 182-Sam Ryan, 195-Brian Cauley, 195-Blake Spell, 220-Emanuel Ryan and 285-Mike Jones.
During the season the wrestlers got a chance to play coach by helping the coaches out with the annual mini-clinic. The mini-clinic is a way to get the young kids interested in the sport of wrestling. Kids ages four through fifth grade are able to learn from the Appling Co. Pirate Wrestling team and then take this knowledge and compete against one another in the same venue as the Pirates. Every year the Pirates and the future Pirates have a great time and it is a great opportunity to take a break from the wrestling season. The Pirates would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all the sponsors, the parents and the young athletes for being a part of the event. For the first time the Appling Co. Recreation Department will have wrestling as a sport during the month of June. Anyone interested can contact the Appling Co. Recreation Department for more information.
The kids that compete in the mini-clinic get to wear their wrestling shirts and come down on the mat and meet the Pirates during Senior Night. The following are this years seniors: Chase Johnson, Kevin Cooper, Andrew Boatright, A. J. Fordham, Mike Jones, Emanuel Ryan, Demarcus Mincey and Tony Skipper.
When the team events are over the wrestlers start moving to the weight class they want to compete during individual state. The Pirates wrestled off for team spots and the following made up the team headed to individual area: 106-Marques Thomas, 113-Kaleb Nail, 120-Brent Johnson, 126-Chase Johnson, 132-cody Tillman, 138-Austin Carter, 145-Demarko Dixon, 152-Ian Carter, 160 Tony Skipper, 170-Kevin Cooper, 182-Sam Ryan, 195-Brian Cauley, 220-Eamnuel Ryan and 285-Mike Jones. The top four from area go on to sectionals hosted in Dublin and the top eight go on to state in Atlanta. The following are the results of each wrestler throughout their competition: 106-Marques Thomas: second area, eighth sectional and state qualifier; 113-Kaleb Nail: area champion, fourth sectional and state qualifier; 120-Brent Johnson: fifth area; 126-Chase Johnson: area champion, third sectional and state qualifier; 132-Cody Tillman: second area and sectional qualifier; 138-Austin Carter: second area and sectional qualifier; 145-Demarko Dixon: area champion, fifth sectionals and state qualifier; 152-Ian Carter: area champion, seventh sectional and state qualifier; 160-Tony Skipper: fourth area and sectional qualifier; 170-Kevin Cooper: sixth area;182-Sam Ryan: third area and sectional qualifier; 195-Brian Cauley: third area and sectional qualifier; 220-Emanuel Ryan: second area, fifth sectionals and top eight state and 285-Mike Jones: sixth area.
During the individual state competition in Atlanta the Pirates had one wrestler medal. Chase Johnson at the 126-weight class got to stand on the podium by placing sixth. It is a rare opportunity and a great achievement. Johnson’s dedication and hard work throughout his career as a Pirate has paid off.
The coaches would like to thank everyone who has had a hand in the program. Every little bit counts and contributes to the goals the wrestling program has set.
The Pirates have had a very good year and have high hopes for the future and would like to invite all the young future Pirates to get onboard the Pirate ship and get involved with the wrestling program at any level.
Pictured above is Pirate wrestler Chase Johnson, second from right, on the podium for placing sixth in his weight class.
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