The War Eagles’ wrestling program is back preparing for the upcoming season.
Putnam County’s local 4-H center held a three-day camp from June 13-15, which allowed wrestlers to receive an insightful learning experience on the mat with well-known Storm Wrestling Center founder and head coach Gerald Carr and his son, Bryce Carr.
Gerald Carr formerly coached at West Laurens High School as an assistant coach before establishing SWC. He is a three-time undefeated GHSA State Champion, a Junior College National Champion and Outstanding Wrestler, qualified twice for NCAA at the University of Minnesota All American 1995 and 1996, and was a five-time GHSA team state champion.
Bryce Carr is a 2017 graduate from the University of Tennessee as a psychology major and Dean’s list student. He’s currently pursuing a master’s in education at Cumberland University. He’s a 2015 NJCAA National Champion at Darton State, four-time Georgia State Placer, Prep Champion at West Laurens High, two-time NCAA D-1 Qualifier and 2018 SoCon Wrestler of the Year. Both of them have coached over 50 high school state champions.
Safe to say, they’re thoroughly qualified to show these wrestlers how to improve themselves on the mat.
Putnam County High School had a good turnout with a mix of experienced and upcoming wrestlers. The camp allowed for them to face any anxieties and fears on the mat in a smaller group, so they could have a more one-on-one practice to learn their strengths, weaknesses and further establish their own skill.
Joseph Hustell said having these two men come and teach Putnam wrestlers is another significant step in his goal to expand the school’s wrestling program. An honorable mention would be Tristen Lower, a rising junior, who has shown great commitment to the sport throughout his years playing and even chose to step away from football to focus more on wrestling.
Scotty Ford is a rising senior also deserving of praise. He has dropped down his weight class and keeps showing improvement every time he goes to the mat.