By Taylor Bush

The Bainbridge High School Wrestling Team is in the midst of a great season. The team is giving their best at this year’s meets and the hard work is paying off.
The boys have shown serious dedication at practices and meets which makes their coach, Chad Smith, very proud.
Nineteen boys from grades 9-12 make up the BHS Wrestling Team. Latavious Baker, Isaiah Brown, Ashton Cato, Glenn Cooper, Hayden Guy, Grayson Heard, Tramaine McCray, and Josh Williams are the eight seniors on the team this year. Coach Smith speaks very highly of his wrestlers by saying, “These guys are nothing less than family to me. Our wrestlers are very dedicated and willing to give me everything I ask for on and off the mat. It takes a special athlete to be a good wrestler.”
Their commitment to the sport shows by their constant practicing during the week. Practices are held Monday-Thursday from 3:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M. These practices, which are guided by Coach Smith, test the strength, technique, and endurance that the boys acquire.
Chad Smith is a teacher at Hutto Middle School. He instructs social studies, science, and reading at a sixth grade level.
This is his sixth year coaching the Varsity Wrestling Team. Smith focuses on connecting to the team members while still pushing them to be the best they can be. His love for the sport and teammates showed when he proclaimed, “Coaching gives me an opportunity to teach and build relationships that last a lifetime. I hope these guys always look back and remember their wrestling coach.”
At this school year’s competitions, the team has done exceptionally well. The team’s record thus far is 19 wins and 5 losses which is very impressive. This is the best single season the wrestlers have had as a team.
BHS placed third at a region meet just last week! However, the sport is just as much an individual competition as a team competition.
There are two individual record holders on the team this year. Grayson Heard holds the record for most wins with 70 victories, and Tyler Storey holds the record for most wins as a freshman with 25 victories. Ashton Cato, Hayden Guy, Grayson Heard, Tramaine McCray, and Tyler Storey all hold first place in their weight class for the upcoming region meet.
Several wrestlers have also earned medals throughout the season at tournaments. The boys are preparing for the most important individual meet for the region that is in two weeks and also for the state meet that will be on February 12, 2014. The state meet will bring the wrestling season to an end.
The Wrestling Team has not gone unnoticed by BHS students and staff this year. The school could not be more proud of the achievements that the boys have made.
Students, teachers, administration, and parents plan to continue supporting the team throughout the rest of the wrestling season by wishing them luck in the upcoming meets. These boys have represented their school exceedingly well, and BHS joins Coach Smith in taking pride in this sport’s team.