Last weekend, February 4-5, the varsity wrestling squad traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee, to participate in the State Duals, the final team competition of the season. After the Owls had achieved an impressive regular-season record of 12-4 and finished second in the regional duals, MUS looked ready for the state competition.
On Friday, the first day, the Owls drew a tough first match against Montgomery Bell Academy. MUS fell to MBA, 54-25, but the Owls produced some nice wins from the upper end of the weight classes. Josh Hall (145), Zach Gordon (160), Grayson Sharpe (171), Mason George (189), and Andrew Gordon (275) all won big matches for the school.
The next day, the Owls came back out on the mats rejuvenated and prepared to face another middle-Tennessee powerhouse, Brentwood Academy. The Owls put on quite a performance as they blew out the Eagles, 63-18. MUS winners in the match included senior Sloan Abernathy, juniors Johnny Duke, Mason George, Andrew Gordon, Frank Jemison, and Cameron Ridgway, sophomores Ken Haltom and Ben Stallworth, freshman Andrew Amos, and 8th graders Barrett Folk and Andrew Maroda. The Owls allowed only 3 individual losses, one of which was a forfeit, in their first win ever in the history of State Duals.
The Owls then advanced to take on Notre Dame but fell 63-12. However, the Owls stayed upbeat knowing that they had won their first match at State Duals and had finished in the top six of the best competition in the state.
The MUS wrestlers will next look to Chattanooga where they will compete in the State Individual Championships on February 18-19.