Photo by Studio 7
Fourteen different weight classes were in action ranging from 103 lbs to 215 lbs. If you are not familiar with a wrestling meet, the constant whistles and shouts and cheers may have been a bit overwhelming, but soon you learn to hone in on the action and ignore the outside distractions. Coaches are just inches from the wrestlers’ circle, shouting instructions, encouragement or pleas, just as in basketball or football, however they felt closer. The officials will mostly ignore the coaches though at the Clinch Gear Prep Slam, several times coaches were told to stand down.
The passion of the coaches, the wrestlers and the fans is undeniable though. Former prep wrestlers that moved on were back watching their former teams in action and the wrestling community was all well-educated in the sport, moreso than in other high school sports. The passion on display at the third annual Clinch Gear Prep Slam was a sight to behold itself and if you were going through withdrawal because the Georgia State duals was postponed, the weekend that was should have been more than enough to tide you over until February.
