AT THIS rate, the Jefferson wrestling team may need to book a travel agent.
The mat Dragons’ national tour — so to speak — starts this weekend as the Dragons test their dominance outside Georgia’s borders. Jefferson treks to the WRAL traditional tournament in Raleigh, N.C., this Friday and Saturday for the first of three out-of-state dates this month totaling 1,569 miles.
That trip will be followed by a Dec. 22-23 date at Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for the Southern Duals and a 1,054-mile sojourn to Rochester, Minn. for the Dec. 30-31 Clash National Duals.
“That’s a killer tournament,” coach Doug Thurmond said.
That last leg of the out-of-state tour will require that the mat Dragons board a plane.
“Some of these kids have never flown before,” Thurmond points out. “It’s going to be kind of interesting.”
Jefferson’s December on-the-road was timed intentionally.
The Dragons have just one event in January before the Jan. 6-7 area duals, while the state duals follow the next week.
So Thurmond wanted to have his team plenty battle-tested entering the postseason tournaments. Jefferson (8-0), of course, is 10-time defending state dual champions and 11-time defending traditional champs.
But this is about more than just gaining mat experience before the postseason.
Wrestling outside Georgia’s borders against a host of unfamiliar faces is a great way to strengthen a team’s chemistry, Thurmond said.
“It’s good team building and camaraderie-ship,” Thurmond said. “You’re wrestling as a close-knit group. That’s kind of nice.”
As for this weekend’s out-of-town assignment, the Dragons will try to improve upon their second-place showing last year at the WRAL tournament.
This 32-team traditional tournament will feature some of the best teams in North Carolina, including last year’s WRAL champion, Parkland, a perennial champion in Class AAAAA in that state.
Thurmond said all Jefferson’s out-of-state events are daunting challenges.
“We just want to come through it and keep everybody healthy and get some great competition,” Thurmond said. “I know we’ll get some great competition.”
In matches closer to the home front, Dragons ran their duals record to 8-0 with a first-place showing at the Sawnee Duals this past Saturday at Forsyth Central. Jefferson beat Milton 60-9, Forsyth Central 69-12, Cass 47-18, North Gwinnett 55-18 and North Forsyth 50-24.
“We got to spot wrestle some people and that was good,” Thurmond said. “We got to wrestle some different lineups. That’s the good thing about duals.”
Three days earlier, the Dragons picked up their first three victories of the dual season with dominating performances over Woodward (66-10), Southwest Dekalb (59-18) and East Coweta (82-0).
