Murphy – Things are looking up for Murphy wrestling. In his second year leading the program after coaching both at Murphy and the now-closed Learning Center charter school last year, head coach Mike Catuto has seen the program double from nine wrestlers last year to 20 this year.
There’s also 20 more wrestlers at Murphy Middle School after not having a team the last two seasons.
“We’ve got just kind of a buzz going around in the school or community about our team,” Catuto said.
“We’ve got a lot of positive responses so far. Everybody’s really pleased, people want to get involved, people want to volunteer. We’ve just come a long way from last year.”
Assistant coach Justin Daugherty also returned this fall, and 2018 state champion and Murphy alum Corey Farmer, Zeke Brinke and Darren Cook have also been helping out. Cook’s son, Mason, transferred from Hayesville after his dad took a job at Murphy, and has gone undefeated so far this year.
“He’s been a great leader for this team,” Catuto said. “Great captain, he’s a hard worker. His example is definitely what I want other wrestlers to see and emulate.”
The team practices at The Block Fitness, which is in what used to be the old dog food plant on Regal Street, and is more space than they had compared to the gym at The Learning Center last year.
“We were able to put out a couple of full-size mats and spread out a little bit,” Catuto said. “Especially with the increase of participants, it’s been really good to have the space for safety and do all the really different activities to have planned.”
Murphy High School has gone 3-2 in dual meets with wins over Hayesville, Cherokee and Towns County, Ga. In a 54-21 win over the Braves on Dec. 13, Dalton Farmer (120 pounds), Mason Cook (152), Trevon Luther (160) and Shawn White (182) all had wins by fall; while Jake Miller (106), Ashton Raxter (132), Zach Kessler (145) and Joe Gibby (170) all had wins by forfeit.
In a 60-12 win over the Indians on Friday, Miller (106), Kessler (145), Luther (152), Cook (160), Robert Chastain (195) and Nathan Shaw (220) all had wins by fall, while Luke Hyde (126), Raxter (132) and Gibby (170) all had wins by forfeit.
The middle school team finished up their season last week at the Smoky
Mountain Conference Championships, where Murphy finished third and had four conference champions. Zander Lucksavage (90), Mason Ray (120), Anthony Catuto (126), Caedan Chastain (250) all took first in their respective weight classes, while Halie Hill (106) and Trenton Cook (113) finished second, and James Garrett (98) and Jonathan Lamb (132) finished fourth.
Andrews Middle School’s Chase Beasley took first in the 106-pound division, his second straight year winning a conference championship.