As the expansive Jefferson wrestling trophy case grows heavier, so does the pressure.
The mat Dragons have won an unprecedented 10 straight traditional state wrestling titles and nine consecutive dual titles, but the joy of those victories is tempered often with the expectation to keep it going.
“You ought to feel good and comfortable about your team and program and everything, and, of course, we do,” coach Doug Thurmond said. “Most people out there would feel great if you were in the top four in the state. But the pressure to keep winning seems to get tougher if that makes sense. It really does.”
Thurmond said he has to remind himself that there’s a lot of fun that goes along with this gig to ease the pressure.
Still, the streak of championships remains to be defended.
“It’s not life or death, but sometimes it feels like it,” Thurmond said, laughing.
Well, in those dire situations, Thurmond has plenty of good wrestlers he can call upon.
Five defending state champions return for the Dragons, as does another state runner-up and three others that qualified for state last year. Cason Thurmond is back as a three-time champion, while Isaac Kelly, Forrest Przybysz, Zach Allen and Cain Finch are defending champions in their respective weight classes. Clay Richardson finished as a runner-up last year. Others returning are Jason McColskey, Kevin Selleck and Jake Sherman.
Thurmond also notes the emergence of several promising underclassmen who will be vying for starting spots.
Jefferson, however, won’t name a starting lineup until wrestle offs are completed. Even then, the Dragons’ lineup might not be solidified for weeks.
Several could be aiming to wrestle at lower weights, and the state’s descension plan will make that a slower process. Wrestlers can only lose two pounds a week and seven percent of their body fat.
“There will be several of our kids that will not be at weight until after our first couple of matches and tournaments. “
The Dragons won’t ease themselves into the schedule either.
Jefferson opens Tuesday against Peachtree Ridge — a tough Class AAAAA school with several wrestlers ranked no. 1 in their weight classes — and Madison County at Commerce. Nov. 30.
“We’re going to have a tough, right-off-the bat beginning of the season because a lot of our kids are not really where they’re going to be. So it’s going to be an interesting start for us,” Thurmond said. “Which will be good. It will be the way we want to. We want it to be tough.”
As for Class AA this year, there are potential usurpers to Jefferson’s supremacy, none bigger than Sonoraville. The Dragons beat the Phoenix 41-22 in the state dual finals last year, while Sonoraville finished fourth overall in the traditional Class AA meet. Sonoraville’s roster, however, sports 12 seniors this season.
“This is going to be one of the toughest years,” Thurmond said. “We only have a few seniors this year starting and then when you’re wrestling a team that’s been trying to knock you off a couple of years and they’re loaded with seniors, you better get ready for them.”
Thurmond said Jefferson anticipated this challenge ever since the state duals ended last year.
“Every year you look at it and you think it’s going to be tough this year but we saw this coming from last year,” he said. “When we wrestled them last year we said golly that is a load of seniors for next year … Next year is here.”
Jefferson also finds itself in a modified area this season. New teams include Elbert County, Hart County and nearby Jackson County. Thurmond said reclassification and realignment has brought several good athletes to Area 8-AA.
“Just like football and everything else, we’ve got some good athletic programs that are coming in to our area this year,” Thurmond said.
So as Jefferson eyes an 11th straight traditional title and 10th-straight duals crown, Thurmond will try to enjoy the ride – as much as he can – as the rest of Class AA has its sights on the Dragons.
“It’s a give and take thing, but you have to make it fun,” Thurmond said. “Of course, wrestling practice sometimes ain’t fun but we’ve got a good bunch of guys and we do have fun with them because they’re a good bunch of kids and they are hard workers and that makes our job a lot easier.”
