State test fuels Clinton wrestling’s offseason drive
As Carl Nielsen reflects on his first season as Clinton High School’s wrestling coach, he already sees plenty of positives — and even more potential.
The Dragons sent two wrestlers to the TSSAA Class A State Wrestling Championships at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin, as Jordan Smith and Hayden Durliat closed their seasons on Tennessee’s biggest stage.
Smith, a junior in the 175-pound weight class, went 0-2 at state but battled in both matches.
“Jordan went two-and-out, but he had a tough draw and wrestled extremely well,” Nielsen said.
Durliat, a freshman 113-pounder, dropped his opening-round match before rebounding with a victory in the consolation bracket.
“In his first-round match, he wrestled a two-time state champion and he competed well,” Nielsen said. “Going to state was a good experience for these guys, and they’ll both be back with us next season.”
For Nielsen, the year provided valuable lessons beyond the mat.
“We had a good season and, in my first year as a coach, I learned a lot,” he said. “We only lose one senior, and we’ll have four seniors, four juniors and four sophomores, so we’ll have a 12-man roster. Hopefully, we’ll have some wrestlers coming up from the middle school.”
The Dragons will take a brief break this spring before returning to work this summer with renewed focus.
“We’re going to come back this summer and we’re going to train,” Nielsen said. “We’re going to be on the mats, and we’re going to spend a lot of time in the weight room.”
