Tigers take on ‘warriors’ role
Darlington’s wrestlers enter the state finals with a small, tight-knit group that has found success.
When it travels to Duluth for the GHSA State Traditional Championships this weekend, the Darlington wrestling team will not have any concerns about coming in with a small group.
Unlike most teams, the Tigers have been competing in a small pack all season.
Darlington, who brought only six grapplers to its area meet two weeks ago, enters the Class AA state finals with five wrestlers, including two No. 1 seeds. The Tigers have made it this far with the ferocious mentality that no mistakes can be made.
“We talk about being warriors, because we are always traveling in tight packs,” Darlington coach Kelly McDurmon said. “I remind them of the movie ‘300,’ and that’s kind of our mentality that we are going to cover each other’s backs.”
The Tigers were powerful in the Area 3-AA tournament two weeks ago, with four wrestlers winning individual titles and another qualifying for sectionals. But it was this past week at sectionals, with two standing atop their weight class and five total qualifying for the finals, that they started making waves.
The most impressive part of Darlington’s lineup is freshmen Dalton Blankenship and Colton Woods, who are both No. 1 seeds at 106 pounds and 113 pounds, respectively. The pair has combined for a 62-8 record despite this being their first year of varsity competition.
McDurmon said Colton’s quickness and fakes allow him to often be a step ahead of opponents, and Dalton’s length comes in handy in the smallest weight class.
Along with them is senior Trent Blankenship, sophomore Davis Peek and freshman Rhett McDurmon, Kelly’s son. All of them have faced their share of big competition in championship settings.
“We have guys with the possibility of being in championships, and that’s where you
score your points,” McDurmon said. “I’m thinking all the training they’ve had up to this point has prepared them for this big stage.”
The Tigers have competed this season many times with less than 10 wrestlers, knowing the limitations that come with that. McDurmon said those limitations only made his guys want to work more.
“Our goal is to outwork everyone there,” McDur- mon said. “We have that same mentality everywhere. So before I get off the bus with my boys, I ask what we are there to do and they say, ‘Outwork everyone.’”
The traditional state championships begin Thursday at Infinite Energy Arena, but the Class AA bracket doesn’t start until Friday. The finals for all classes are scheduled to begin Saturday at 3 p.m.