Wrestlers down E. Jackson, fall to Banks

The Red Raiders hosted Washington Wilkes Thursday in the Barn. They will travel to North Oconee to face four area teams Saturday, before hosting East Jackson and Hart County Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, Madison County will match up with Clarke Central, Apalachee, Social Circle and North Oconee.

Houston said Clarke Central “will be tough again.” He said his squad will have to work hard to keep its winning streak alive versus Apalachee, who hasn’t topped Madison County in seven or eight years. Houston said Madison County topped Social Circle last year, but he added that the Redskins have everyone back, while Madison County graduated a “barn full” of wrestlers. Meanwhile, North Oconee has been a top 10 Class AA team for the past several years.

Houston’s squad is very young this year. He said he’s in a teaching phase now with his team, adding that around Christmas he’ll move into a drilling and repetition phase.

“In January, we’ll be in more of a training phase,” he said.

Houston said he “felt pretty good” about his team’s regular season opener last week in Homer, noting that MCHS beat East Jackson and fell to a Banks County team that returns most everyone from a squad that finished fourth in Class AA last year.

VERSUS EAST JACKSON

Madison County topped East Jackson 57-24. Red Raiders winning their matches against East Jackson included:

•120 lbs: Tanner Gordon (by pin).

•138 lbs: Max Nash.

•145 lbs: Donnie Harper (by pin).

•152 lbs: Ereck Larkins (by pin).

•160 lbs: Calvin Davis.

•170 lbs: Josh Huff.

•182 lbs: Joe Lovelady.

•195 lbs: Steven Resby.

•220 lbs: Andrew McCannon (by pin).

VERSUS BANKS CO.

Madison County lost to Banks 45-23. Red Raiders winning their matches against Banks included:

•120 lbs: Tanner Gordon.

•138 lbs: Max Nash (by pin).

•145 lbs: Donnie Harper (by pin).

•195 lbs: Steven Resby (by pin).