Mount Pisgah’s wrestling team is hunting for success.
Last season, the team was second in the state and ninth out of every team in Georgia. Despite this great accomplishment, everyone on the team craves more this year.
“Every year is new, and people don’t care what you did yesterday,” states Head Coach Josh Merry.
Merry plans to guide the team by faith to be the best in the state. Last year, he brought in the Head of FCA Wrestling to speak and plans to do the same this year.
“Having someone so deeply rooted in wrestling and faith and had struggles sharing his faith can be magical,” explains Merry.
With faith as their firm foundation, the team can efficiently work towards physically being the best.
Among the wrestlers, Senior Captain Conner Doherty looks to lead his team to winning it all. With many career accomplishments, such as 100 wins, 2023 State champion, and committing to wrestle at Army West Point, Doherty plans to use his experience to benefit the team.
“I want all my teammates, especially the younger guys, to see the mindset and work ethic it takes to become a state champion,” says Doherty.
Juniors Steele Brown and Christian Lange are also captains alongside Doherty and plan to lead through guidance.
“I like to tell underclassmen/new wrestlers to ask for help if they need it and always to keep a leveled head,” explains Lange.
With years of experience under their belts, both are ready to make this team as strong as possible.
“I’m always making sure the underclassmen/new wrestlers are doing the moves right, and I also am someone they can talk to about anything,” explains Brown.
Like every season, Coach Merry intends to help the team reach their goals.
“As a coach, it’s a joy to see how much an athlete grows in any area, especially physically, mentally, spiritually, or in terms of ability,” says Merry.
With a coach who plans to do anything to get them to success, the team will have a great season.
Each team member has also individually set goals to help them thrive on and off the mat. Captain Doherty, who laid out his ideal senior season, shows one example of the team’s clear-cut goals.
“My goals this year are to win a third individual state title, to reach 200 career wins, and to be the best leader I can be for my team,” explains Doherty.
With strong leadership, passion, and determination, the 2024-2025 Mount Pisgah Wrestling team is lined up perfectly to succeed. The highly-anticipated state match is Feb. 13-14, and they plan to come out on top.
“We can’t be satisfied with what occurred in the past, and we must put in the work and live in the moment,” states Merry.
