Two years ago, Head Coach Jeff Carter started putting together a wrestling program at Auburn High School after a 30-year hiatus.
He knew it would be tough to introduce a sport to student-athletes that had never even seen a wrestling match.
Only a handful of parents and athletes showed up at the first organizational meeting, but Carter was able to find enough individuals to fill almost every class on his roster. There were football players, complete rookies and a few club wrestlers, but no one of real experience.
They took their lumps and even won a few classes here and there. An off-season that included weight lifting and some club matches, and the team was starting to come together.
This fall, Carter recruited a few football players and some that were walking the halls. With the returners and a strong new group, he has managed to do something this year that few wondered if it could happen. The team is sending four wrestlers to the state tournament (Triston Perry, Jared Purdue, Dustin Arnold and Asa Adkins), and finished in 11th place in a highly competitive region that includes the likes of first place-Grundy and second place-Rural Retreat.
Carter said it’s simple. There has been more interest in the sport this year and the team has learned quickly.
“Several of the wrestlers are now in their second season. They not only know what is expected of them, but they understand the sport more. They have figured out it is a physical, aggressive sport and they need to treat it as a physical combat with their opponent,” the coach said.
Throw into the mix that Auburn is facing new opponents as a member of the Mt. Empire District, and the unknown was definitely a factor this season.
Jared Purdue is one of those athletes that is back for a second year. “We really got down to business, practicing harder than ever and wanting the state win for our school and us as a team to keep the wrestling team climbing the chains,” he said.
Individually, he gives a lot of the credit to Carter, assistant coach Joe Thacher and Auburn athletic director Paul Dominy for their support of the team.
“What I think was the difference for myself is getting the support of the best coach and practicing hard each day. Also getting better at focus and being a better teammate and captain,” he said.
Meanwhile Perry who is also going to states is one of those newcomers. He has always been involved in sports, but wrestling might not have been on his radar. After a grueling fall football season, he decided why not. There has been the strain of trying to eat a lot for their energy he needs and then the flipside of losing at a moment’s notice in order to make weight. But he has stuck with it and placed fifth in this past weekend’s regional meet in Wytheville.
“I was influenced and persuaded by some of my coaches and family and have recently been interested in the sport and thought I would give it a try. This year has been going surprisingly well since this is my first year in the sport,” Perry said.
His record in his first year is 28-13. He said the team has had a lot more guys including himself come out for the sport, working hard every day, as well as Coach Carter who has many years of coaching under his belt. “He had pushed us and taught us very well,” Perry said.
The state tournament is slated for this weekend in Salem, and Carter has some optimism heading into the action especially since it’s a 12-man bracket.
“There are certainly favorites going into the tournament. The Auburn guys are not among those favorites. However, crazy things happen at state wrestling tournaments. One guy having a good day and getting some breaks could easily end up on the podium. Our guys just need to be in a good frame of mind, stick to their plan, and keep their focus for each 6-minute match. They have nothing to lose as a first or second year wrestler,” the Auburn coach concluded.
Purdue admits he is overwhelmed about going to states. “. I never dreamed of myself going but here I am. I could never give enough to the people that has got me here and what I will achieve there. I hope to make my school, my coaches and my parents proud.”
Perry said he is already a bit nervous as this will be his first appearances at an athletic state event but has wrestled many of the guys that will also be there and feels he can turn some heads.
Whatever happens, the Auburn wrestling program has come a long way from Day 1 just a year ago.
