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Robertson County Cup: Underclassmen wrestlers continue to impress, Springfield retains team title





Greenbrier's Harold Ward gets ready for his match.Christina Moore

Greenbrier’s Harold Ward gets ready for his match.Christina Moore

Jaime Sanginez, and his brother, Ali, have practically turned their living room into a training ground.

The first-year Springfield wrestler said he clears out room in their family’s home almost daily to get training sessions against his older brother – a three-sport athlete and Class AA sectional qualifier.

“When we say we wrestle, we don’t just go out there and pin each other. We work,” Ali said.

“It gives me the conditioning,” added Jaime. “It makes me work harder in practice and gets the extra work in.”

So far, their at-home battles have paid off. Jaime is 21-1 through his first 22 matches as a high schooler, going 3-0 in the 113-pound division during Friday’s Robertson County Cup, where Springfield retained its team championship from last season.

Springfield's Jaime Sanginez takes down JaTavious Lunsford.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Jaime Sanginez takes down JaTavious Lunsford.Christina Moore

“I knew from a very young age that he had a lot of fight in him,” said Ali, a sophomore. “We started off kind of slow this season (as a team), but for us to come in here and wrestle like we did, I think it’s a really big statement.”

The Sanginez brothers are just two in a heavy crop of standout underclassmen county-wide.

Greenbrier, this year’s runner-up in the cup, boasts freshmen Harold Ward and Will Carter, who are a combined 32-1. Casen Goostree, Isaac Long and Zaden Wells are all underclassmen at East Robertson, and each hold eight or more wins on the year.

White House Heritage is the only county team with an upperclassmen-heavy lineup, but head coach Joseph Hill said even that’s dampened by the infancy of the fourth-year program.

“That’s the thing that’s going on in our county right now; it’s a lot of underclassmen that are coming in,” said Springfield coach Christopher Holzer. “I probably have, out of my 14 guys, nine of them that are underclassmen right now.”

Springield celebrates back-to-back Robertson County Cup championships.Christina Moore

Springield celebrates back-to-back Robertson County Cup championships.Christina Moore

The influx of young talent made for a more competitive cup Friday.

Springfield beat each of its in-county foes by an average of 42 points last season and ran away with its first-round contest against East Robertson this year. But they needed what Holzer called “smart wrestling” to sweep Heritage and Greenbrier for the championship.

That involved junior Mac Gregory and sophomores Gavin Price and Kolton Brown avoiding pins and milking the clock to give up fewer points.

“The guys being aware of where the points are at and not giving up the big points. Anyone can go out there, just roll on their back and give up six points,” Holzer said. “These guys fought to not give up the six points.”

Jaime Sanginez and Ward were undefeated in Friday’s action, while Carter was unavailable for Greenbrier with an illness.

The wins added to the Springfield freshman’s already impressive resume. Sanginez has pinned at least three seniors through the first month of the season and said he hopes to qualify for this year’s state tournament.

Springfield's Sidney Sergle braces for impact.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Sidney Sergle braces for impact.Christina Moore

With three of the county’s five qualifiers from last season graduating, there’s a need for someone else to reach the Williamson County Expo Center in February.

That early determination may elevate the level of play within Robertson County wrestling as a whole.

“It’s just pushing to be great, really,” Ward said. “I want to be the next big thing.”

“I think that’s what’s going to make the sport grow stronger here in Robertson County,” added Ward’s coach, Billy Whitaker. “The more that the younger guys continue wrestling, we’re going to be one of the top regions in the state. I’m looking forward to that.”

RESULTS

Springfield 70, East Robertson 6

Greenbrier 51, White House Heritage 30

Greenbrier 55, East Robertson 12

Springfield 54, White House Heritage 30

Springfield coach Chris Holzer shakes hands with a Heritage wrestler.Christina Moore

Springfield coach Chris Holzer shakes hands with a Heritage wrestler.Christina Moore

White House Heritage 54, East Robertson 24

Springfield 39, Greenbrier 30

The Springfield bench intensly watches a match.Christina Moore

The Springfield bench intensly watches a match.Christina Moore

Santana Washington tries to break out of a hold.Christina Moore

Santana Washington tries to break out of a hold.Christina Moore

Zamar Clemons (left) and Addison Hassler (right) regroup after the buzzer.Christina Moore

Zamar Clemons (left) and Addison Hassler (right) regroup after the buzzer.Christina Moore

Coach Joseph Hill and the Heritage Patriot side cheer on their team.Christina Moore

Coach Joseph Hill and the Heritage Patriot side cheer on their team.Christina Moore

Springfield's Kolton Brown tries to keep East Robertson's Jon Radford down.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Kolton Brown tries to keep East Robertson’s Jon Radford down.Christina Moore

Greenbrier coach Billy Whitaker has pow-wow between matches.Christina Moore

Greenbrier coach Billy Whitaker has pow-wow between matches.Christina Moore

Greenbrier's Ian Stewart wins his match against Heritage's Jared Carringan.Christina Moore

Greenbrier’s Ian Stewart wins his match against Heritage’s Jared Carringan.Christina Moore

Mason Hawk (left) and Mac Gregory stare each other down.Christina Moore

Mason Hawk (left) and Mac Gregory stare each other down.Christina Moore

Kolton Brown (right) digs deep to attempt a flip on Jack Jones.Christina Moore

Kolton Brown (right) digs deep to attempt a flip on Jack Jones.Christina Moore

Springfield's Gavin Price tries to avoid a takedown.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Gavin Price tries to avoid a takedown.Christina Moore

Greenbrier fans celebrate a pin.Christina Moore

Greenbrier fans celebrate a pin.Christina Moore

Springfield's Ali Sanginez attempts to break free from Heritage's Keith Lunsford.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Ali Sanginez attempts to break free from Heritage’s Keith Lunsford.Christina Moore

Springfield's Brenner Winters gets a hold of Heritage's Brayden Crouch.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Brenner Winters gets a hold of Heritage’s Brayden Crouch.Christina Moore

 

 

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