Darlington’s varsity wrestling team finished strong in the GHSA Traditional State Championships which concluded on Saturday, Feb. 10 in Macon, Ga. with six athletes representing the school. The Tigers finished second in the Class A team standings with 113.5 points.
Juniors Dalton Blankenship and Colton Woods each won their third straight state championships for the Tigers and Rhett McDurmon came away with his first.
Blankenship defeated Chris Sperin of George Walton Academy 8-3 in the 126-pound championship bout, Woods blanked Pinecrest’s Joseph Metz 5-0 in the 132-pound finale, and McDurmon ascended to the top of his weight class, edging Commerce’s Nick Patrick in the 152-pound finals.
“The greatest part about this experience is that as a team, we took second place at the GHSA State Championships, which has never been done before in Darlington School history,” said Kelly McDurmon, varsity wrestling coach. “What a great close to the 2017-2018 wrestling season! We’re especially grateful for all of our parents and supporters.”
Freshman Luke McDurmon (113) finished as state runner-up, senior Davis Peek (138) finished in third place, and junior Garrett Sheffield (160) finished fifth.
“I’ve been the head coach of state championship teams in the past, and those have all been terrific. But this championship was special to me as both a coach and a father,” McDurmon continued. “Winning this weekend and having both of my sons participate in the championship, that was truly a great coach and dad moment of pride. I’m so proud of this amazing team, the best in Darlington School history!”
