Corbin wrestlers finish meet with nine individual firsts

The Corbin High School Wrestling team took to the mat for the first competition in the program’s short history and came away with nine individual first place finishes, finishing third among the four participating teams.

Coach Chuck Davis’ team took 39 wrestlers to the meet at Barbourville High School that also included Bell County and Knox Central.

Individual Redhounds finishing first in their weight classes included: Seth Huff and Zayne Hammack at 215 pounds, Clem Sell at 175, Gage Feltner at 157, Leland White at 165, DJ Jackson at 128 and Koryon Smith at 144.

Two of the Redhounds took home first place on the girls’ side.

Abriella Sizemore at 190 pounds and Allison Neeley at 132 pounds.

“We haven’t even been on a real wrestling mat yet,” Davis said explaining that Corbin’s mats are still on order so the team has been using the cheerleaders’ mats for practice.

“To be on the mat for four weeks, we did extremely well,” Davis said.

Davis said Saturday was an eye-opener for his wrestlers and for the coaching staff.

“I had been telling them how physical wrestling his and that you can’t duplicated what you will experience in a match during practice,” Davis explained. “So that first match was an eye-opener just because of the physical aspect with the grabs and holds.”

Davis said several members of the team opened his eyes to their potential.

“Some of them, you watch during practice and you are not sure if they can cut it, but they got out on the mat and became a whole different person,” Davis said.

Going into Saturday, Davis told his team that he expected three things out of each of them: to compete, get better and have fun.

“If you are not having fun the other two are not going to happen,” Davis explained.

The Redhounds will be back in action Friday and Saturday night in the small school sectionals at Knox Central.

The competition Friday night will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.