Wrestlers recognized for season's accomplishments
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Will Winona competed in the 182-lb. division and was honored with the Coach's Award for his full effort in workouts and "never-back-down mentality."
POMEROY–This season the Pirate wrestling team and Carlos Norris from Dayton-Waitsburg traveled over 3,000 miles to wrestle opponents from over 60 different schools, ranging in size from 1B through 4A, in three different states, in preparation for the post season, said Pomeroy High School Wrestling Head Coach Ben Slaybaugh. This article will include awards and comments that would have been presented as the Winter Sports Awards event, canceled due to COVID-19.
Two Pomeroy wrestlers and co-op wrestler Norris reached the state tournament in Tacoma, Slaybaugh noted.
"The WIAA Mat Classic is a sight to see with over 1,200 wrestlers competing from all classifications as well as girls," Slaybaugh said.
Dayton senior Carlos Norris wrestled well to finish off his career with a fourth-place medal in the 138-lb division. "He had a great season and will be missed next year," Slaybaugh said.
"Braedyn White had a great outing and fought his way through stiff completion onto the podium with a sixth-place medal," the head coach said of the 170-pounder. "He showed some really good wrestling and as a sophomore has a bright future.
"Will Winona battled it out on the big stage and came up just a little short his two matches," Slaybaugh said of the 182-lb. Winona. "Will is a great kid and a tough competitor."
Prior to state, at the Regionals Norris finished second in the 1B/2B Region 2 Tournament to earn a spot in the State tournament in Tacoma.
"The Pirate wrestlers battled their guts out in their quest for a state berth in the 1B/2B Region 3 tournament," Slaybaugh said. "Braedyn White placed third, Will Winona finished fourth, and Curtis Winona finished his season in fifth place."
Curtis Winona's wrestling season ended at a level that was the best he had all year, Slaybaugh said, and was really starting to put things together. "For an 8th grader wrestling with high school kids in one of the toughest weight classes, he never complained, never made excuses, and never quit working and that earned him a tremendous amount of respect," the coach said.
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Braedyn White was honored as Most Valuable, Most Inspirational and team captain.
The Pirate team was also helped this year by freshman Lane Shawley who suffered a season-ending injury yet took over the managerial duties. "He did a great job as the bag boy," Coach Slaybaugh said.
Fellow wrestling teammates voted on individual awards.
Braedyn White was named Most Valuable Player, Most Inspirational Player and Captain.
Most Improved Player was Curtis Winona.
Carlos Norris was recognized as a team Captain.
Will Winona received the Coach's Award. "Will is an outstanding young man of great character, and he has a great sense of humor that kept us coaches entertained all season," Slaybaugh said. "He gives you everything he has at practice and has a never-back-down mentality that will make him successful in life. It has been a real pleasure to get to work with Will for the past couple years."
