Taking to the mat for its sixth year, the Clinton Dark Horse wrestling team, this year made up of 26 members, is geared towards improving its overall record by pinning their opponents and taking down the conference one match at a time.

Aside from lifting the teams record over the past few years, the Clinton wrestling team was not ranked among the school’s top sporting events six years ago, head coach Frank Quinata shared.

“In the beginning, when I picked it up (three years ago), it still wasn’t that popular,” Quinata admitted earlier this week. “I think we started with 21 kids in 2006, but ended up with eight by the end of the season.”

According to Quinata, the reason for the drastic drop in numbers was due in part to injuries and a loss of interest.

“Last year is when we really started building the program to be better; I basically had to recruit and encourage kids to try out,” Quinata explained.

His target? Freshmen.

“I knew the freshmen from middle school, and a lot didn’t have anything else to do because they weren’t playing football,” the coach explained of his recruiting technique.

As the upperclassmen observed the freshmen partaking in wrestling, Quinata said it sparked something in them, and they, too, began to wrestle.

Although the team generated 24 members last year, the numbers still dropped to 15 by the season’s end.

As for the 15 wrestlers who stuck it out, Quinata explained it was because of the veteran leadership skills off the mat.

“The freshmen enjoyed it, but they knew they were going to get pounded. They remained on the team because the seniors said, ‘Hey, we got treated the same way, and we stuck with it,’” Quinata recalled.

Because a majority of the freshmen chose to stick with the sport, the team is currently composed of a larger sophomore and senior base, which Quinata believes will help them throughout the season.

“They are not going to go in there unprepared this year because that learning process of sticking it out is stronger; so, this year we have more of a focus,” the coach voiced.

With the season kicking off last Thursday, the Dark Horses were focused on breaking down the opponents and earning a season-opening win.

“We really didn’t know what to expect; we were nervous. But, it just so happened that the first person to go was our most experienced wrestler, Ted Rives, and when he won that took the cobwebs out and kept the train rolling in,” said a pleased coach.

While the Dark Horse team has lost two wrestlers this season due to ineligibility, the 26 who remain are determined to keep winning.

Females on the team

An interesting twist to the team’s makeup this season is the three females on the roster, one of which kicked off the trend last year.

“I really, truly didn’t even know there was a wrestling team at Clinton High School,” said Brittany McCullough. According to the first Clinton female wrestler, she tried out for the team because some “guy friends” recommended the idea to her.

McCullough, weighing in at 119 pounds, but wrestling in the 130-pound weight class, said she has not tussled with a female opponent yet.

As for wrestling men, she commented, “It’s no different than wrestling a girl; it’s really just a mental thing.”

“It’s always harder for the guy anyway because it’s a no-win situation. You have to think of her as any other wrestler,” Quinata explained.

Last year, McCullough was victorious in four of her matches, but due to an injury was out eight matches into the season.

As for the rest of the Clinton A-team, currently they are geared towards improving their record.

“Last year our record was 5-16 and the year prior to that we were 3-16, so it is slowly moving up. We have never won a first match before so there are hopefully only good things to come,” Quinata pointed out.

After meeting with the coach, the Dark Horses took to the mat Monday in a dual meet against Spring Creek and Southwest Onslow, which put another two points in the win bracket for the team.

Throughout the season, the Dark Horses are slated to compete in seven conference matches, however, several tournaments are scheduled throughout the season.

“One person can wrestle up to 25 meets if they don’t get hurt, but they cannot wrestle more than five in a day.”

The Dark Horses first tournament is Saturday, Dec. 5, at West Johnston.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com