With football season over, Coach Roger Barlow has moved indoors for another season of Coffee County Central High School wrestling. The 2017 season was not the team’s best in recent memory; Coffee County dealt with many injuries as well as attrition over the course of the year, which hurt the team at meets.
This year, a larger group full of fresh faces has Barlow looking forward to seeing what Coffee County can do.
“Thus far, I’m kind of excited,” Barlow said. “We’ve got a lot of new kids which is good for the program, something that we’ve fought for a long time to get kids out.”
Among the new additions to CHS is a transfer student from Idaho who has experience with rodeo, a freshman from North Carolina and several wrestlers who have a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The larger numbers have brought more natural athletes to the team as well as the opportunity to field an almost full JV squad.
A young core to build around combined with the experience of Coffee County’s returners has led to a good mix of leadership and team building.
“I think we’ll have a much better season than we will last year,” Barlow said. “They’re a blank slate. I can build them the way I want to build them.”
Among the returning wrestlers are seniors Ray Reyes and Dakota Chalker. Going into their final seasons with the team, the boys are excited by what the team can accomplish with their new teammates.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, definitely,” Reyes said. “So far, a good mentality.”
Chalker has his sights set on getting CHS deep into the postseason. Based on what he’s seen, he feels like he’s not alone in this mentality.
“I’m hoping for first place state this year by the end of the season, no doubt.” Chalker said. “Everybody’s pushing.”
Thus far the coaching staff has been impressed by the young team’s drive to compete. Whether running everyday drills or practicing moves on the mat, the team has shown a competitive spirit. This intensity brings back reminders of Barlow’s early years as Coffee County’s head coach.
“My first three or four years at Coffee County, we were always told, win or lose, we were the most aggressive team that teams would face,” Barlow said. “I have been harping and harping and harping that I want to get back to that.”
After two preseason tournaments, the Raiders and Lady Raiders will kick off the regular season with a meet in Smyrna on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The CCMS Lady Raiders celebrated Eighth Grade Night on Monday with their eighth straight win in a 13-0 victory over Harris for a season sweep of the Eaglettes.
On Monday night, the CCCHS Red Raiders scored in the final five minutes to lift them over the Lincoln County Falcons 1-0, but the win was overshadowed by a scuffle between players in the final seconds of the game.
On Saturday, Coffee County’s Jacob Barlow was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State AA Wrestling Team in the 150 pound weight class.
