Dragon grapplers see bright future
Clinton High School wrestlers recently completed another successful season at the TSSAA state championships in Franklin.
The Dragons had a sophomore champion as 165-pounder Deameion Leavell claimed the program’s first-ever state title, so the future is bright.
Clinton saw its seniors recently wrestle their final matches for the Dragons.
The Class of 2024 will leave the program as one of the school’s most successful, having qualified for the Region Duals for three consecutive years. The Dragons have enjoyed deep postseason runs in each year of Head Coach Channing McDonald’s tenure at the school.
This year’s senior class made a deep impact on the program. Despite their eligibility ending at the end of the season, these athletes will continue to contribute to the program after graduation, the coach said.
“ I expect all of them to come back and continue contributing to the program as coaches,” McDonald said. “They’re already helping the younger kids in our youth program.”
The senior class of 2024 includes Justice Snyder (who competes in the 120-pound weight division); Caleb Kendall (126-pound weight class); Bryce Bunch (132 pounds); Parker Sanchez (138); Riley Silk (150); Ben Dewald (157) and Keagan Bolen (190).
McDonald had high praise for his seniors, as Snyder and Silk concluded their final high school on the state’s grand stage in the Midstate.
“They all work hard and they’re all leaders,” he said. “They all lead by example. They all show up, come in and do what they’re supposed to do. And that’s just a good thing to see.
“I’ve been very impressed with our seniors. They’ve worked hard for three years and they all seem to have the right frame of mind to keep building this program.”
Any successful high school athlete must make sacrifices to maximize talent and success, but the high school wrestler is a special kind of athlete according to McDonald.
“All high school athletes must make sacrifices, but I think wrestling is the toughest high school sport in Tennessee,” he said. “Everybody likes to throw passes, catch passes, run routes, score touchdowns and score goals.
“But not everybody likes to spend time getting their heads pounded into a mat. It takes the most discipline. (Wrestlers) have to cut weight and if you’re going to be good, you’re still on the mat for 20 or 30 minutes after practice. There’s no time that can be wasted.”