A job well done today to our Middle School Dual Team, even if it doesn't seem that way. Just remember, we gave up 30 team points before we even stepped on the mat for the first bout of each round (5 unfilled slots - total of 6 team points per forfeit(6X5=30)) - we were playing catch up and almost did a few times, so we have some talent!! That's huge and needs to be developed!
We had some stellar matches and wrestled well and actually had some close team scores - Just imagine what we could have done with a full roster! The thing about duals is that while, individually it's always great to win, but to be there! If you aren't there on a team and we have to forfeit, we lose 6 points. If you get caught and lose by points that's only a 3-4 point loss - if another team doesn't have a wrestler at your weight, we get 6 points. So, it's important as a team that we have a full roster. Even if you are an alternate, that is an important part of a dual team, you are there to support your teammates and just as important as the starting lineup.
The dual format is how you will wrestle in High School and the one thing that we hope all of our Middle Schooler's learned today is that whatever you do on the mat, affects what happens to the rest of your teammates. We had some tight matches that could have gone either way and we had a few upset matches as well. Keep that in mind as prepare for the Middle School State Duals at Milton on January 22, 2011. Most of our middle schoolers who helped Roswell place 4th in Division and 7th in State last year are back with us this year - we have some fantastic wrestlers and hope our missing ones today can join us for the State tournament.
You all represented Roswell well, we are all proud of each and everyone of you for your sportsmanship and support of one another - that is first and foremost of our program.
Your High School "brothers" won their first Dual Regional Championship yesterday in the history at Roswell, that is huge! Shake off individual losses and even today's team losses at the Duals - you all showed that you were a team, lets work as a team to learn from mistakes and to work with each other to build on our strengths!
Way to go JR Hornet Middle School - you wrestled great today!!! Keep working!!
