Shown above are members of the Takedown Club in Rockmart. On the front row, from left, are Brett Washington, River Durcoher, Steven Sampson, Gunner Chambers, and Calliyon Thomas. On the back row, from left, are coach Cary Streetman, Casin Goodson, AJ Streetman, Brayden Durocher, Andrew Pearson, Robert Torline, Kemarion Washington, Kohl Streetman, Mason Phillips, Dalvin Millhollan, and head coach David Duchemin. (Brad Easterwood/thepolkfishwrap.com)
“There are six qualifiers in the state of Georgia and we went to the one in Adairsville,” club president Eric Durocher said. “That is one of, if not the, hardest qualifier in the state. There were around 300 kids at the event.”
Representing Rockmart, and advancing to state, were Brett Washington, Gunner Chambers, Brayden Durocher, Kemarion Washington, River Durocher, Kohl Streetman, Robert Torline, Steven Sampson, Andrew Pearson, Mason Phillips, Calliyon Thomas, Casin Goodson, AJ Streetman and Dalvin Millhollan.
“The top four in each weight class advance to state,” Durocher said. “So all 14 of the kids we took finished in the top four in their respective weight class.”
Sampson won first place in his division, as did Thompson, Milhollan, Kemarion Washington, and Brent Washington.
Braden Durocher, River Durocher, Goodson, and Phillips all took second place at qualifiers. Pearson, Chambers, A.J. Streetman and Kohl Streetman finished third. Torline took fourth place.
Durocher said the wrestlers have to make weight in order to compete. They have wrestlers competing in the six-and-under, 40-pound division all the way up to the 14-and-under, 105-pound division.
“Last year we had four kids place at state and we are hoping to improve upon that this year,” Durocher said, while also noting that they usually carry 10 to 15 kids to state each year.
The folkstyle season starts in November of each year and goes until March.
“We practice three days a week, including all day Saturday,” Durocher said. “A lot of work goes on down here and we are real proud of the kids for what they are accomplishing.”
The club president also wanted to thank the City of Rockmart for all their help.
“We couldn’t do it without their help, especially Jeff Hulsey,” Durocher said. “Jeff is always willing to help us out, he is always kind and courteous and without his help we wouldn’t be able to have this program.”
Durocher noted that the big kids state tournament, for wrestlers 12-and-under and 14-and-under, was held last weekend at Parkview High School. The little kids state tournament for wrestlers 10-and-under, eight-and-under and six-and-under, will be this weekend at Pickens High School.
The head coach of the Takedown Club is David Duchemin and the assistant coach is Cary Streetman.
Gold sponsors of the club are Ivy League Kids and Landscape Impressions, Inc. The silver sponsor is Coosa Dental Associates and the bronze sponsor is Bob's Used Furniture.
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