The mayor of wrestling

The Trousdale County High School gymnasium was packed on Tuesday evening as the first-ever home wrestling match was held, which included competitors from TCHS, Station Camp High School and Watertown High School.

The tri-match was originally slated for Jan. 16 between Trousdale County, Station Camp and Liberty Creek High School but was rescheduled because of inclement weather.

With the date of the event being changed, Liberty Creek could no longer participate, and Watertown High School graciously became the third competitor and furnished some of the equipment for the match.

To open Tuesday evening’s event, two-time state wrestling champion and Trousdale County High School senior Rob Atwood wrestled Watertown’s Wesley Duncan, with Atwood emerging victorious.

Additionally, Atwood also defeated Station Camp’s Logan Duncan in the last match of the evening.

However, long before the first round of the evening began, it was evident that Atwood was the reason why so many folks turned out for the tri-match as he put on an impressive performance.

“Rob’s been wrestling for 14 years, since the age of four,” said Rob’s mother and Trousdale County High School Head Wrestling Coach Beverly Atwood. “At that time, when he first started, we knew nothing about wresting. We thought, ‘This is going to be a joke,’ because it was like herding cats with a bunch of little boys running around everywhere. But Rob just kind of fell in love with it.”

While Atwood has compiled an 18-0 record so far this season, wrestling is only one area in which he excels. He currently holds a 3.8 grade-point average and signed to continued his academic and athletic career at Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

“I’ve already signed my national letter-of-intent,” said Atwood. “I’ll be attending Virginia Military Institute on a full wrestling scholarship. A full wrestling scholarship is different than a full ride in any other sport. They don’t give you nearly as much in wrestling as you can get in other sports. I did get the full amount though, but it’s not what is considered a full ride.”

Beverly Atwood added, “Rob actually signed his letter-of-intent on Nov. 8. Because of his scholarship, he signed and got the paperwork immediately back to VMI. He’s also applied for other scholarships. But Virginia has given him a decent amount, so that’s good.”

As Atwood continues wrestling at the college level, he will move into a different weight class.

“Rob is wrestling at 215 pounds, but in college, the weight classes shift,” said Beverly Atwood. “They’ve recruited him for a 197-pound position, which is the second to the last weight class.”

However, before Atwood leaves for college, he still has to finish his high-school wrestling season, which could afford him another state championship for the third year in a row.

“My season’s been going okay,” said Atwood. “There are still improvements that need to be made. I had a match that was double overtime with a kid out of Clarksville. It was a match that I should have beat the kid by more, but there were things that happened that are going to happen in certain matches, and they happened in that match. It kind of went against me, but you can’t have everything going for you all of the time. Other than that, it’s been a pretty good season.

“I really can’t jump to any conclusions right now about the state championship. You just have to stay humble and keep working. I haven’t won it yet, so I’m not going to say anything about it.”

Atwood will be graduating from Trousdale County High School in May which will leave the current two-man wrestling team with only one member, junior Joshua Martinez (who won one of his two matches on Tuesday).

Nevertheless, because Trousdale County’s wrestling team only consists of two members, the school has not been able to budget for a coach or needed equipment. As a result, both Atwood and Martinez train individually at separate locations off campus.

“Rob pretty much trains with Station Camp High School and Green Hill High School,” said Beverly Atwood. “We do have a couple of private coaches who train him as well. At times, he’s even driven to Murfreesboro to train.”

While Atwood’s time at Trousdale County High School is quickly approaching an end, Beverly Atwood said that she hopes the program will continue for years to come.

“I hope the wrestling program will continue long after Rob graduates,” said Beverly Atwood. “But I don’t know how long it will. Next year, Mr. Martinez will have to go before the school board to get approval for taking over the head-coach position. It’s a volunteer position. The Martinezes have to fund everything themselves for Josh, just as we’ve had to do for Rob. The school doesn’t pay for anything. It would be difficult for the school to do it, because they not only have to get a coach, the mats are very expensive, and they’d have to order the gear.”

After the wrestling match ended on Tuesday night, Atwood expressed excitement regarding the outcome of his first home wrestling match.

“Mom’s been dying to have a home match for four years now, so if mom’s happy, I’m happy,” said Atwood. “Before tonight, I really couldn’t tell you what it felt like to have a home match. But I feel good. I was able to wrestle one of my close friends. He and I practice together, and we will be practicing together again tomorrow.”

Beverly Atwood added, “In wrestling, they are all friends, win or lose. We call Rob the mayor of wrestling because he knows everybody and he talks to everybody.”

On Feb. 10, wrestling regionals will be held at White House Heritage High School. The top four wrestlers from regionals will move on to sectionals at Forrest High School in Chapel Hill on Feb. 17. From there, the top four competitors in sectionals will advance to the state championships, from Feb. 23-24 at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin.