New coach brings winning tradition

The new season began this past weekend for Horne’s team as they competed against Oconee County and Monroe Area Friday night and then wrestled five times in a tournament at West Hall High School.

The Mat Doggs fell to Monroe Area and Oconee County and fell in their first three matches at West Hall to Brookwood, Gilmer (the defending Class AAA champion) and Pickens County. WBHS then put two wins in the record book by defeating Apalachee and Johnson High School of Gainesville.

“We will take some bumps and bruises this season but we have some talent,” Horne said. “We have to learn to use our technique and not just our strength.”

The new WBHS coach has an overall young squad to work with this season.

The nucleus of his team is freshman and sophomores.

“We have some wrestlers with potential but they are learning about the difference in strength from middle school wrestling to high school wrestling,” Horne said. “That’s why technique is so important.”

Devan Espinosa was 4-1 with three pins this past weekend while teammate Will Whisenant was 4-3 with four pins.