Redskin wrestlers claim ECOL honors and sectional team title
The Coshocton High School wrestling team claimed the ECOL team title this year. Head Coach Sean Collins also was named the coach of the year and Lucian Brink was named the wrestler of the year. Contributed | Beacon
The CHS wrestling team came through for Collins again on Feb. 23 during the sectional meet at Sandy Valley High School. They earned the team title, qualified nine kids and have two alternates headed to the district tournament. Contributed | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Sean Collins and his assistant coach Troy Spang had high expectations for their Coshocton High School varsity wrestling team going into the ECOL tournament.
“We had lengthy conversations with the team about our expectation to win the ECOL this year,” Collins said. “We fell short of our goals at the state team duals two weeks earlier. The ECOL tournament was a chance for redemption and proof of the team’s capabilities.”
The wrestlers from CHS showed what they were made of by beating county rival River View by one point to claim the ECOL team title on Feb. 16 at home.
“Winning the title at home made the experience that much sweeter,” Collins said.
This, however, was just one of three awards presented to Coshocton wrestling that day.
“The sequence of awards left everyone waiting in anticipation,” Collins said. “Lucian (Brink) won ECOL Wrestler of the Year and we celebrated. Then we had to wait for them to read off team scores. They gradually worked their way from eighth place to first. When we heard our team announced as the ECOL champions (winning by one point) the team and home crowd erupted. They then announced the coach of the year award and it couldn’t have been better. We had a team title, wrestler of the year, coach of the year, and were fortunate to have it all happen in our home gym.”
Collins was excited to be able to share his moment with the coaching staff and team.
“If it wasn’t for all of the supporting members in our program it wouldn’t be possible to be as successful as we’ve been this year,” he said. “It takes the cooperation of wrestlers, statisticians, coaches, administrators, booster members, and parents to have a successful program. This year I feel that we were operating well together on all of those levels to achieve certain goals we set at the beginning of the season.”
Brink, a junior on the team, said he was caught off guard by his honor.
“I didn’t even know it was an award,” he said. “The whole day I was just focused on trying to get the team title. It was nice to be able to beat River View. We haven’t done that for a few years. As a team we really came together. We were ecstatic.”
He also greatly appreciates his individual honor.
“I’m a very goal orientated person,” Brink said. “I work hard and push myself to get to those. It felt great to be honored for my hard work. I really appreciate this.
Collins said their goal is to also claim the sectional and district title and he believes they can do that by continuing to work together.
“Wrestling is a difficult sport to navigate because you have to balance the team and individual aspects at the same time,” he said. “We had more duals this year than in the past. I think that helped the team to come together as a group to support each other. That support then carried over into practices and tournaments.”
The team came through for Collins again on Feb. 23 during the sectional meet at Sandy Valley High School. They earned the team title, qualified nine kids and have two alternates headed to the district tournament. Results were: Ethan Dixon, 106 – second; Lucian Brink, 113 – first; Austin Guthrie, 120 – first; Corey Phillips, 126 – third; Kobey Rust, 132 – fifth; Zach MacDonald, 138 – fifth; Blake Barrick, 145 – first; Jackson Unger, 152 – first; Jaelen Brightwell-Walls, 182 – fourth; Gunner Gray, 195 – second; and Austin Fowler, 285 – second.
Category: High School, Sports
