The Patriots huddle during their first-round victory over Ridgeland in the Division 2 state duals at OCHS on Dec. 18. The team heads into the individual part of the season with matches at Westside in Augusta this weekend. (Submitted Photo)
Coach Josh Austin had high praise for the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team, which finished sixth in the Division 2 state duals in its first season as a program.
“I’m really proud of the girls for being able to walk around for the rest of their lives and understand that they were part of history,” Austin said.
Oglethorpe County has had a handful of female wrestlers compete alongside boys in previous seasons, but this is the program’s first official year having a girls team. The Patriots began the season with a smaller roster, but Austin and his wrestlers were able to add four additional athletes, bringing the number to 13.
Those additional wrestlers helped propel OCHS through the sectional and into the girls Division 2 state dual final eight at Lumpkin County High last weekend.
The Patriots opened with a 48-36 loss to Long County after having to forfeit two weight classes.
In the second round, OCHS defeated Hardaway 60-24, but then lost to Gilmer 66-18, which led to a sixth-place finish.
The goal at the beginning of the season was to end the season with as many girls that started. The majority of the girls were in their first season of wrestling.
“We achieved that goal very early,” Austin said. “I realized that these girls were committed, and then that they weren’t going to go anywhere.”
Austin said the Patriots wanted more than to just make the tournament.
“We could have checked it off, as you know, we’ve done it just by getting here,” Austin said. “But, you know, that wasn’t good enough for the girls, and they ended up, they ended up wrestling really well.”
Oglethorpe County heads into the individual competition portion of the season, which starts with the individual area tournament at Westside (Augusta) this weekend. The wrestlers who place in the top four will advance to the sectional on Feb. 7-8 at Putnam County.
The top four there will go to the state tournament at Macon on Feb. 14-15.
Several wrestlers have stood out this season.
They include Tristin Caldwell, Akira Owens and Emily Gregory, all sophomores. Tori Miller is another standout sophomore.
“I was very happy to make it this far with a team that’s so new to the wrestling community, and it felt like I watched them grow into loving it,” Caldwell said.
Looking on to next season, Austin’s goal is to have 18-20 girls join the team.
“The momentum that we’re going to have is going to continue to grow the sport,” he said.