THEJanuary NORTH 13, GEORGIA 2016 THE NEWS NORTH January GEORGIA 13, 2016 NEWS Page 13Page 13 Union wrestling places fourth at Area Tournament By Todd Forrest North Georgia News [email protected]

Tiger - Union County wrestling had their best team showing at Area during their short history last week at Rabun County when they took home fourth place after entering the tournament ranked fifth. The Panthers fell to River- side Military Academy in the first round by a score of 30-48. In round two, Union took down the host Rabun County Wildcats, 48-29. Last year, Rabun placed fourth so the Panthers vic- tory over the Wildcats allowed Union to steal their spot from a Union County wrestling against Greater Atlanta Christian at the Area Tournament (left). Union County in action vs Riverside Military Academy at the Area Tournament (right). year ago. In the third round Union squared off with wrestling power Greater Atlanta Christian and took care of business, 46-36. The Spartans placed sec- ond last year to Social Circle. In the final round, with third place on the line, the Pan- thers met up with Riverside once again, who edged Union for third place. According to Union Coun- ty Wrestling Coach Michael Smith-Foot, each year Union County has been either the first or second team eliminated from the team tournament. “This was a huge step in Union County Wrestling places two at the Amicalola Classic. the right direction this year,” Coach Smith-Foot said. “What a 21-4 record at 106 pounds. Most of the team has win- is most impressive about this feat Sophomore Brendan Mason was ning records, but these are the is that it was accomplished with 21-2 at 113 pounds. most impressive records. eight freshmen, four sophomores, Freshman Tyree Mackie “We are in the phase of the and two juniors in the line-up.” Union County vs Rabun County at the Amicalola Classic. held a 17-3 record at 126 pounds. season were maintaining weight Social Circle went on to against Dawson County, Murphy, “We are hoping to finish The Panthers fell to Wes- Freshman Isaac Tritt was 12-6 is very important and polishing win the tournament and private and Rabun Gap. in the top four at this area as leyan but defeated Rabun, both at 138 pound. Sophomore Griz- our movements in wrestling is a school Wesleyan placed second. Next week, the Panthers well and hopefully send eight to Area foes. zly Breedlove was 20-7 at 182 big deal too,” Coach Smith-Foot Union has wrestled Wes- go to Hayesville to wrestle with ten wrestlers to Sectionals, and Union’s dual record on pounds. said. “The one thing we need to leyan twice this season with both Swain County. That weekend at least four to State this year,” the year is 6-10 with most of Junior Zach Payton held a improve on is losing without get- losses coming by 15 points or Union wrestle in their last tour- Coach Smith-Foot added. those losses coming by narrow 14-5 record at 220 pounds. Sopho- ting pinned. Most of our dual loses less. nament at Pickens County before Prior to the Area Tourna- margins. more Josh Silvers was sporting a would have been wins if we would This week, Union has their Traditional Area, Sectionals, and ment, Union finished fourth at the Entering the Area Tourna- 10-5 record at 285 pounds, but have lost by points instead of pin. final home match on Tuesday State. Amicalola Classic. ment, freshman Alex Barrett had only weighs 218. That is frustrating as a coach.” First in Region... continued from Page 13 NASCAR 2016 Down 67-57 with 4:47 Baenninger scored 15 of By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter to play, a Baenninger jumper his game-high 26 during the sparked a 9-0 Panthers’ run. second half as the Panthers Wood Brothers To Race Full Schedule At the 4:17 mark, Baen- pulled away from a 32-27 Can the Wood Brothers re- move to a great organization with a ninger nailed a trey and 22 advantage at the break. claim some of their former glory? solid driver, while still getting the Union outscored the Ti- It’s been six years since the chance to work with the people that seconds later, drove into the Wood Brothers, NASCAR’s old- I’ve come to know and respect at paint for two more. gers 19-10 in the third quarter est team, has been able to run a full ,” said Bullins. “Ev- A layup by Crawford as they opened up a 51-37 lead Sprint Cup season. Since 2009, they eryone in the sport knows about the Colwell, off a feed from entering the fourth. have had to content themselves with Wood Brothers and recognizes that brother Candler Colwell, at Baggett connected from running only 14-20 races per year, No. 21. To get a chance to work for the 3:27 mark brought Union downtown in each quarter for due to lack of sponsorship. Eddie and Len and the entire organi- within a point at 67-66 - cap- a career-high 12 points. As a That will change this year zation and to have Ryan behind the ping off the run. team, the Panthers hit seven as the team has secured a full sea- wheel, is pretty much everything I The Wildcats made it a treys. son sponsorship and young Ryan could have asked for.” Shook finished with 7 Blaney as their driver. The team was formed in 69-66 game with 3:09 to play “We are beyond excited to 1950 by Glen and , and the Panthers would turn points on 3-of-4 shooting at make this announcement about go- hence the “Wood Brothers”. it over on the ensuing posses- the line. Senior Matthew Rich ing back to full time competition,” Some of NASCAR’s great- sion, but no harm was done as scored five with three coming said Eddie Wood, team co-owner. est drivers sat behind the wheel of the defense made a stop. on a first quarter trey. “It has been something we’ve the No. 21 during the 1960s, includ- “I’ve always told the Seniors Andrew Brown worked toward since 2009 when we ing , , guys that when you make and Lance Rich added 4 points started running limited schedules. , , what they will mean for various stops and pick your energy each. Senior Joseph Mancuso “I have to thank Ford, our , , Speedy teams,” McReynolds said. “Every up on defense, you make added 2 points. technical alliance partners Team Thompson, , and time there is a rules change in NA- buckets,” Coach Jones said. Candler and Crawford Penske and Roush Yates Engines, . SCAR it helps some drivers while Colwell both finished with 2 as well as everyone at Motorcraft, In 1972, David Pearson was conversely hurting others. You’ve “I don’t know why that is, but for working with us to make this hired to be the full-time driver of Patrick Baggett points. always heard me say that no mat- when you play great defense, day possible. It’ll be fun to see just the No. 21 car. This choice would ter what rule changes they make, no you have great offense. But 8-2 Panthers’ run to close the Union led 15-14 after how good Ryan Blaney, and our pave the way for one of the most matter what car they run, no matter down 10, we had to make a half made it a 31-30 game at one quarter with five different team can be over a full season.” successful strings of victory in what points system or Chase format stop, and make buckets. They the break. Panthers reaching the scoring The last time the Wood motorsports history. In only seven NASCAR selects -- regardless of were killing us with that one Baenninger accounted column. Brothers won was in 2011 when years, the team entered 143 races any of that -- the cream is always play, and after 3.8 quarters we took the Daytona and amassed a staggering 46 wins going to rise to the top. for the game’s final six points 500. Now that they have a techni- and 51 poles. Their race winnings decided to stop them.” of the second quarter with a Panthers 30 “Any rules changes is not Baenninger, who fin- Riverside 41 cal alliance with Team Penske, they surpassed $1.3 million during this going to take a team that is consis- pair of treys in the final 23 should be in contention for top-five period with Pearson as the driver. tently running 25th and make them ished with 13 points in the fi- seconds. and top-10 finishes throughout the Pearson continued driving the car Gainesville - In a battle a contender for wins. In the same nal frame and 21 in the second The first trey made it a season and could even find them- from 1972 to 1979. breath it’s not going to take a team half, evened the score at 69-all 31-27 game with just over 20 between the top two teams in selves back in victory lane once In 1976, with Pearson still that is a contending team and all of with a three from the left wing seconds left, and his second the 8-AA standings, Union again. driving, the Wood Brothers won sudden you find them simply strug- at the 1:57 mark. came with 5 seconds left, just came out ice-cold and found Blaney is one of the favor- the coveted “Triple-Crown” of gling to finish in the top-15 every With 1:13 remaining, as he did in the second half, themselves behind 10-5 after ites in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint NASCAR racing; by winning the week. Baenninger went 1-for-2 at to bring the Panthers within one and 21-8 at the break. Cup Series Rookie of the Year race legendary , the World “It just doesn’t work that the foul line to give Union its Shook scored all 7 Pan- and if Blaney and the Wood Broth- 600 at , way. The best drivers and best crew a point. ers can live up to their potential, and the at Darlington chiefs are going to find their way to first lead since it was 19-16 in Baenninger’s 35 and ther points in the third quarter as the Eagles extended their the 22-year old could bring home Raceway. the front no matter what is in front the second quarter. Crawford Colwell’s 25 com- Rookie of the Year honors as well. and the Wood lead to 31-15 entering the of them. Rabun would retake bined for 60 of Union’s sea- “This is every driver’s dream Brothers team had a successful “Fans might remember the lead at 71-70 with a pair son-high 77 points. fourth. come true, getting a chance to run relationship. It lasted only three that NASCAR had the teams race from the charity stripe with 39 Baggett’s three treys Union would match its in the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” said and a half seasons and 83 races, this low downforce package last seconds left. gave him 9 points, Shook scoring output for the first Blaney. “I’m really looking forward but included 9 victories and over year on two occasions. Ten seconds later, Craw- added 6 points, and Can- three quarters with 15 in the to running with this historic team $700,000 in winnings. Racing won both of those races at ford Colwell attacked the fourth but it wasn’t enough to and hopefully get them their 99th As time marched on through Kentucky and at Darlington. I still dler Colwell finished with 2 and 100th wins sooner rather than the 1970s and 1980s, many of the basket for two and the foul. points. catch Riverside. maintain it’s going to the same cast The sophomore connected at Baenninger scored five later.” cutting-edge innovations pioneered of characters, no matter what the Crew chief will be Jeremy by the team were discovered or rules package is, that will rise to the the line to give Union a 73-71 Panthers 64 of his team-high 13 in the fourth and Shook scored four Bullins. He returns to the Wood were outright copied by other dif- top. advantage. Washington Wilkes 51 Brothers organization following a ferent teams. Thus, the Woods’ “It’s still going to be Kevin Baenninger scored six of his 11 in the final frame. successful three-year tenure with competitive edge had been dulled Harvick, , his brother of his team’s 11 points in the Washington - Baen- Candler Colwell hit a Team Penske’s No. 22 NASCAR by other teams taking advantage of and the Jimmie John- first quarter as the Wildcats ninger followed up his fourth quarter trey for a total Nationwide Series team that pro- the Wood innovations and therefore, son’s of the world up front, contend- led 14-11 after one. 35-point game with a 26-point of 3 points, junior Parker Mc- duced 21 wins and two consecutive the Wood Brothers were trying for a ing for the wins and the champion- With 1:14 left in the performance in a win at Wash- Combs added 2 points, and NASCAR Nationwide Series Own- rebirth for the fabled NASCAR No. ship. The good thing as we head into first half, Rabun began to ington Wilkes on Saturday Crawford Colwell scored 1 ers’ Championships. 21 Ford. the 2016 season is that all the teams pull away at 29-22 but an point. Bullins first worked with the would find vic- have two races under their belt run- afternoon. Wood Brothers in 1999 on the Pro tory in their second season together ning this package. They also know Cup and driven by at Richmond International Race- that this is the rules package they . In 2000, Bullins became way in Richmond, . In 1987 will run every single race weekend, race engineer for the iconic No. 21 the team won the Coca-Cola 600 at except for the four restrictor-plate Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Charlotte. races at Daytona and Talladega. Series, a position he held until June During the 1990s, they won “I can promise you that the of 2002. Bullins moved on to work with drivers , Michael front-running teams will have their with ST Motorsports, Robert Yates Waltrip, and . arms around this package and it will Racing and Rac- They merged with Tad and be the same cast of characters up ing, where he helped drivers Kevin Jodi Geschickter’s JTG Racing in front when it is all said and done.” Harvick and claim a 2006 to increase their competitive- While the NASCAR off total of nine Sprint Cup Series vic- ness and bring about sponsorship, season has not come to an end, it tories as a race engineer. but separated for the 2008 season. is getting close. Several teams will A native of Walnut Cove, Since then they have only conduct tires tests this week at Las NC, Bullins joined Team Penske been able to run partial schedules Vegas Motor Speedway. in 2012 to serve as the crew chief each year. With young Blaney be- Goodyear is expecting to for the No. 22 car in the Nation- hind the wheel, a working alliance build softer tires with the adoption wide Series, earning three wins in with Penske, and better funding, of the lower downforce rules pack- his first full season at the helm. In maybe a new generation can find age for the 2016 Sprint Cup season. 2013, Bullins led the team to 12 victory lane and help reclaim some Greg Stucker, the director of race wins with four different drivers and of their former glory. tire sales for the NASCAR supplier, the team’s first Nationwide Series McREYNOLDS TALKS said tires will be tuned to each track Owners’ Championship. The No. ABOUT NEW RULE with a goal of increasing grip. 22 Ford team won the Owners’ Title CHANGES Racing Trivia Question: again this season behind six series Larry McReynolds gives his What is the date of this year’s Day- victories. In total, Bullins earned 21 take on the new NASCAR rules tona 500? wins, 14 poles, 57 top-five and 79 that will be in effect during the 2016 Last Week’s Question: top-10 finishes in 99 starts with the racing season. Who was the first NASCAR cham- No. 22 Team Penske Nationwide “This will be the year of pion? Answer. It was . Left to right: the foursome of Chase Shook, Lawson Baenninger, Crawford Colwell, and Patrick Baggett Series program. the low downforce package in You may contact the Rac- mix it up on the defensive end. These four players provided 75 of Union’s 77 points (97 percent) in the “This is a great opportunity NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, ing Reporter by e-mail at: hodges@ win over Rabun County. Photo/Todd Forrest for me at this point in my career to and it remains to be seen exactly race500.com. NT(Jan13,Z19)CA