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Forbus, Whitley lead Cougars in tourney action

Published 12/21/06 in The Times-Herald

By TONY JONES
tony@newnan.com

LAGRANGE – Newnan's Caleb Forbus (112) and Josh Whitley (215) have advanced to today's high school wrestling semifinals of the two-day Callaway Invitational being held here at Callaway High School.

The dependable Cougar bookends are now only two wins away from the coveted individual titles.

The Cougars are in 10th place in the team competition following night one action. Oxford (Ala.) High School has the lead followed by Hardaway and LaGrange.

Forbus got opening-night pins against Troup County and Bowdon. Whitley received a first-round bye, then pinned LaGrange.

Forbus will now meet the top seed out of Oxford today.

"I can't think about these wins tonight. I have to move on and come out tomorrow and perform in a fashion where I can walk away with my head held high no matter the outcome," said the Cougar 112-pounder.

Newnan brought a depleted squad to the tournament. Sorin Hutzelman (103) is not in action. Andy and David Pope (135, 152) and Chris Barnett (145) are also out of the lineup.

All but Hutzelman are missing the event because of semi-formal. The three had already committed to participate in the semi-formal before the wrestling event – initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday – was moved to Wednesday and Thursday.

"We miss those guys tremendously. They would have greatly helped but we are here trying to battle through this without them," added Forbus.

Newnan also got a bad break when county-champion Zack Thompson drew a female opponent in the first round of the 119 division. Newnan head coach Clint McCall has a policy that doesn't allow his kids to compete on the mat against females.

Thompson, who has wrestled well all season, forfeited the match. Ironically, Thompson, advanced through the next round of wrestlebacks with a forfeit victory.

Newnan performed very well in the Wednesday night wrestlebacks. Daniel Wilson (125) and Michael Rogers (145) won with pins against Mt. Zion.

Josh Rumohr (140) took a 10-4 decision over Mt. Zion and Tommy Mitchell won 10-4 over Hardaway in the 160-pound class.

Three mats were used on opening night and the tournament will continue today with the semifinals slated to start at 9 a.m.

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Though Rams are short on veterans, O'Connell shaping team into winner

By MIKE TENNEY
Chronicle Correspondent 12/21/06

The Rams also have a pair of female wrestlers that the coach says have shown marked improvement after struggling last year when they were novices to the sport.

Sophomore Shelby Breen was 7-15 last year as a freshman, but has a winning record this year in the 119-pound class along with sophomore Grace Benson (Zac's younger sister), who was 1-13 last winter, but who has rebounded nicely this year in the 185-pound class to also have a winning mark.

"I give them both a lot of credit," said O'Connell. "After last year and the way it went for them, it would have been easy for those girls to walk away, but they didn't do that. Instead, they worked and focused and decided they wanted to come back. And you can see from watching them, that work has paid off, because they're both doing much better this year."

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Wrestling novice hoisting medals

Date Published | Dec. 21, 2006
BY SCOTT HADDOW

It hasn’t taken Macdonald-Cartier wrestler Maxime Comeau long to make her presence felt on the local and provincial scene.

In fact, it just took days.

A gymnast all her sporting life, Comeau, 14, decided to give wrestling a shot this season, her first in the high school loop.

The move paid off as Comeau has already won a gold and silver medal at tournaments held in Sault Ste. Marie and Mississauga earlier this season. And the season has only just begun.

It was easy for Comeau to leap into wrestling, but it took some prying.

“My older sister is in wrestling,” said the Grade Nine student. “I would watch her practices…and I really got interested in the sport. The coaches said I would be good at it because of my gymnastics background, so I joined for the fun of it. I love sports and competing. It was definitely the right move. If I have fun, that’s what really counts.”
Wrestling allows Comeau a chance to expand her talents daily.

“I learn new skills every practice…every match,” said Comeau. “I picked up the leg shot the easiest. I also like that I’m just going to try my best this year. Winning is fun, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen…I’m still learning.”
Comeau is like a sponge and absorbs knowledge quickly.

“Obviously, she has great balance and power from gymnastics,” said her club coach Paul Berthiaume of the Rayside Wrestling Club. “She learns really fast. I show her a move and the next thing I know she’s in a tournament and using the move exactly how it was shown to her. Learning at such a quick pace is important and only helps her.”

Not only is Comeau a natural, but she’s also a student of the game.

“I see improvement in her everyday,” said the coach. “Max listens attentively. She’s not stubborn and thinks she knows it all, so that has also helped her have success.”

Gymnastics laid a strong foundation for grappling.

“Being in gymnastics really helped me with wrestling,” said Comeau. “I had a lot of flexibility and strength from gymnastics. In wrestling, with some holds…people would be hurt, but for me it doesn’t because I am flexible.

Gymnastics really builds your body to be strong. Gymnastics can be painful too…it toughens you up, if you fall upside down on your head or off a beam, it hurts.”

Wrestling has also brought Comeau closer to her sister, Andree-Michele, sometimes a little too close.

“Watching my sister and observing her moves has helped me,” said the rookie grappler. “She’s my training partner…she beats me, but that’s how I keep learning and getting better.”

Already winning a gold and silver medal has Comeau thrilled to compete for more glory. “It meant a lot to win…It felt good knowing I have potential in this sport.”

The wrestling world is hers for the taking.

“Max is going to do well,” said Berthiaume. “She has the perfect base to make a great wrestler. She has to keep working and attending big tournaments like provincials, NOSSA and nationals. Max will have to do a lot of travelling…taking on the best competition all the time will make her a better wrestler.”

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