PageAugust 3B THE 19, NORTH 2020 THEGEORGIA NORTH NEWS GEORGIA August NEWS 19, 2020 Page 3B Wrestling: Martinez departs Thursday for Iowa’s Waldorf University By Todd Forrest to them. Sports Editor “I also want to thank [email protected] my family, my friends and my teammates. They helped make this decision a lot easier with The proverb “all things all of their support and encour- come to those that wait” per- agement.” fectly describes the wrestling Before getting contacted career of recent Union County by Waldorf, the only school graduate Cristian Martinez. Martinez considered was Bene- With his college plans dictine College in Kansas. still up in the air as recently as “I was planning on going a month ago, Martinez never to Benedictine for the spring lost faith. Finally, in early July semester but everything worked he got the news he was hoping out and Waldorf was just a better for when Waldorf University in opportunity.” Forest City, Iowa made an offer Martinez is scheduled to he couldn’t refuse. leave for Iowa on Thursday. And “They sent a letter to let despite not having much time me know they wanted me to to contemplate his decision, wrestle for them,” Martinez said he immediately bonded with during an interview last week. the head coach, Murie Tomke, “So I’ve only been committed which helped expedite his col- for about a month.” lege decision. Patience has been a virtue “I’ve frequently been in for Martinez ever since he hit the contact with the coach and he’s mat five years ago. just an all-around amazing guy,” While other kids began Martinez said. “He’s helped me grappling at a younger age, Mar- out with everything, answered tinez wasn’t drawn to the sport L-R: Union County’s Cristian Martinez as a junior during the 2018-19 season and as a senior at last December’s Senior Night. Photos/Todd Forrest all my questions and is just an until eighth grade. And after the next level.” physically to be a college wres- and puts him among the upper- but he’s a leader and one of the awesome guy.” three years of cutting his teeth, According to Union tler, but he has the work ethic echelon of wrestlers.” best young men that I’ve ever One drawback to the late things finally started to click. County wrestling coach Justin that you need at that level.” During his senior year, had the pleasure of coaching. I offer was the inability to visit As a junior, the 182- Byers, he looks back at Marti- Coach Byers was also Martinez suffered an upset know he’s going to go on and do the campus. However, Martinez pounder had an epiphany - real- nez’s 11th grade year as when quick to acknowledge that his loss during the State Sectionals great things.” has seen pictures and was im- izing he’d found his calling and he turned the corner. physicality and a nose-to-the- to a wrestler he had defeated Martinez also had plenty mediately drawn to Waldorf’s that it could potentially be his “We had high expecta- grindstone approach aren’t the earlier in the season. But how of praise for his coaches, who small campus. ticket to higher education. tions for him during his junior only qualities Martinez brings he responded to the setback help mold him from an inex- “I don’t mind that at all,” “I definitely remember year,” he said. “But we always to the mat. confirmed Byers’ faith in Mar- perienced eighth grader into a he said. “I actually prefer a when that happened,” Martinez knew he had potential because “He’s a very methodical tinez and his readiness for the college athlete. smaller learning environment. said. “It was during my junior of his impeccable work ethic. competitor,” Byers added. “It next level. “Coach Byers and Coach It’s also just a beautiful campus year and I had a lot of influ- He would get up and run 4-5 often seemed like he was play- “It was a heartbreaking (Michael) Smith-Foot taught me right in the middle of town.” ence from my coaches. They miles everyday. He was always ing a chess match with his op- defeat and I was worried,” By- pretty much everything I know,” The North Georgia News believed in me and told me that in the weight room and anytime ponents. He was always aware ers said. “But he bounced back he said. “They were right there would like to congratulate Cris- I need to keep this up and make we rolled out the mats he was of the points and the clock, espe- and that’s very important as a with me on my journey and tian and wish him all the best in (wrestling) a priority because I constantly there working. Not cially if he was ahead. I believe college wrestler. He might not helped me become a better the future. was good enough to take it to only does he have what it takes that is what really separates him be a vocal, rah-rah type of guy wrestler. All of the credit goes Union County Softball Stats NASCAR 2020 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Elliott Gets Daytona Road Course Win DAYTONA BEACH, FL - held off Denny Ham- lin for his third road course win in a row. It was his eighth career Cup Series victory and the second of this season. He led 3 times for 34 of the 65 lap Inaugural Daytona Road Course, and crossed the fin- ish line .202-seconds in front of Hamlin. Elliott, who also won Stage 1, had a lead of 9 or more seconds for much of the final 18 laps. A late race caution caused by set up the three lap shootout. “I don’t think I did anything special today,” Elliott said. “I had a phenomenal car. I have to thank my crew and all the fans. Really fortunate from that standpoint. Had a good week of preparation and came out and really executed on the race. “Any win at Daytona is spe- cial. (Crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) and I were joking that we had to Elliott Gets Daytona Road Course Win change it to a road course to win at Cindric-830, 2. Briscoe-782, 3. tor. Daytona. … Just a great day.” Gragson-740, 4. Chastain-709, 5. “I’ve probably been in the While the finish might H. Burton-645, 6. Haley-637, 7. simulator five or six hours prac- have looked close, Hamlin never Allgaier-633, 8. Annett-567, 9.B. ticing the Daytona road course,” reached a point where he could at- Jones-561, 10. Herbst-462. Custer said. “We’ve obviously had tempt a pass on Elliott in the last Here are the results of Sun- to sort through some stuff to get three laps. day’s Truck Series race at Day- it as realistic as we think we can. “I kept him honest there,” tona: 1. , 2. Brett From there, it’s trying to get me Hamlin said. “He had such good Moffitt, 3. Raphael Lessard, 4. better and there’s a lot of stuff to drive off the corners, I couldn’t do , 5. , 6. work through because we haven’t anything with him.” , 7. Grant Enfinger, been there in these Cup cars. We’re Martin Truex Jr. finished 8. , 9. Scott La- trying to make sure we are close on third, while was gasse Jr. 10. . the car, and making sure I’m driv- fourth and fifth. Top 10 points leaders: 1. ing it how I need to. There’s a lot of , , William Hill-476, 2. Moffitt-422, 3. Smith- stuff to be done since we are going Byron, , and Michael 417, 4. Rhodes-413, 5. Eckes-412, to a brand new track layout and we McDowell rounded out the top 6. Creed-399, 7. Crafton-375, 8. need to make sure we’ve hit every- 10. Enfinger-366, 9. Ankrum-343, 10. thing so we are 100 percent when had tested Gilliland-340. we show up.” positive for the coronavirus and MCDOWELL IMPROVING There are three races left was replaced in the No. 3 Richard HIS PERFORMANCE in the regular season before the Childress by Kaz Grala, Michael McDowell, driver playoffs start Sept. 6 at Darlington Georgia High School Association Football update who finished seventh. of the No. 34 Front Row Motor- (S.C.) Raceway, and Custer’s win Points leader and polesitter sports Ford has shown a lot of im- at Kentucky earned him one of the By Todd Forrest had two spin outs. provement over the month of July. coveted 16 playoff spots. Sports Editor The first one came during lap 37 “It’s one thing to run up His teammate Kevin Har- [email protected] and several other cars were in- front, then kinda fall off the map vick also owns a playoff spot after volved. The second one was on lap again, and be kinda stuck in the six wins this season. Thomaston - A week 44. He lost one lap, but was able to mid-20s,” said McDowell. “But Racing Joke: Alex was at- after canceling all high school get a 17th place finish. I just feel like now we’re consis- tending a cocktail party when a football scrimmage games, the Kyle Busch had a rough tently in the teens every race. So, it young lady came up to him. She Georgia High School Asso- day. A brake issue sent his No. 18 means a lot to me to see the whole introduced herself, then remarked, ciation (GHSA) elected to keep Racing behind program be elevated to the point “You know... you look like my Sept. 4 as the tentative start to the wall for lengthy repairs on lap where we’re not just racing the cars third husband.” 2. He then spun in Turn 6, and the that we typically race every week- “How many times have you the 2020 season. brief off-course excursion knocked end – we’re racing the big teams been married?” asked Alex. Last month, the GHSA him back to 13th on Lap 25. When and the big dollars. We’re doing it “Twice,” replied the lady. Board of Trustess voted unani- his brakes gave out with 17 laps to consistently. Weekend Racing: There mously to delay the season by go, Busch steered the No. 18 to the “I think the consistency part will be five events this weekend at two weeks (Sept. 4). However, Cup Series garage, where he lost of it is so rewarding. It’s not like the Dover Monster Mile. Unfortu- the GHSA acknowledged last six laps to the front-runners while we’ve made it, we don’t feel like nately, fans will not be allowed to week that the start date could his crew worked. He returned to that, but when you’re doing it ev- attend. once again be pushed back the track, but both rear tires blew ery week, you start to feel like you The postponed Indy 500 “based on COVID-19 data.” out with six laps remaining. He belong and we can do this. And not race will be held Sun., Aug. 23. finished 37th, his fifth finish out- every week is gonna be like that – Coverage begins on NBC at 1 PM For additional informa- side the top 30 this year. we know that. But at the same time, ET, with the green flag at 2:30 pm. tion, visit www.ghsa.net. The site Top 10 points leaders: 1. consistently running well, being Like the Dover NASCAR race, the is usually updated on Wednesday Harvick-939, 2. Hamlin-821, 3. competitive, and being in conten- grandstands will be empty. with the board’s latest statements Keselowski-803, 4. Elliott-775, tion for top 10s, and getting top 15s Fri., Aug. 21; Truck Series and/or guidelines. 5. Blaney-755, 6. Logano-754, is a huge achievement for our team race; Starting time: 5 PM ET; TV: 7. Truex-753, 8. Almirola-682, 9. and our program. FoxSports1. -673, 10. Kyle Busch- “Drew Blickensderfer, my Sat., Aug. 22; Xfinity Series Upward 2020 Flag Football and Cheer registration 652. crew chief, is a huge asset to the race; Starting time: 12:30 PM ET; House of Prayer Church of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon into a team of individuals com- CINDRIC IS HOT program. Because he’s been on TV: NBCSN. is glad to announce that it is on the upper football field by mitted to supporting churches IN XFINITY SERIES race winning teams and in con- Sat., Aug. 22; Cup Series once again time for our Upward the House of Prayer Family everywhere to maximize their led 21 of tention for championships, that’s race; Starting time: 4 PM ET; TV: Flag Football and Cheerleading Life Center offices. For more unique resources and personali- the 52 laps in Saturday’s Xfinity what’s cool about having him. He’s NBCSN. 2020 season. Online registra- information regarding registra- ties to serve and meet the needs Series race. He was 7.108 seconds a good balance of being excited Sun., Aug. 23; Xfinity Se- ahead of runner-up Brandon Jones that we’re getting the finishes and ries race; Starting time: 1:30 PM tion is now open for boys and tion, call the HOP church office of their communities. girls in grades kindergarten at the checkered flag. It marked his feeling good about it, but also be- ET; TV: NBCSN. at (706) 745-5925, or visit Today, there are over fifth win in the last six series races, ing like, “Hey. We belong here do- Sun., Aug. 23; Cup Series through 8th at www.hopb.org. its Facebook page at Upward 2,800 Upward sports experi- and tied a mark set by Sam Ard in ing this and we need to keep going. race; Starting time: 4 PM ET; TV: The registration is ac- HOP-Blairsville. ences across the U.S. serving 1983. We need to be able to move from NBCSN. cessible through August 22nd, About Upward Sports hundreds of thousands of young Cindric led the first 15 laps 15th to 10th, 10th to 5th, and start Racing Trivia Question: and the price to participate is Founded in 1995 out of athletes playing basketball, from the to take challenging for wins.” So, he does Which Cup Series team does Mar- $60. Payment plans are avail- a church in Spartanburg, South soccer, cheerleading and flag Stage 1. won Stage a good job of keeping the, “Alright, tin Truex Jr. drive for? able, if needed. Convenient Carolina, founder Caz Mc- football. What began as a lo- 2 by holding off Cindric in a heated we’re here, but let’s keep going! Last Week’s Question: weekly practices commence the Caslin had a passion for sports cal, recreational basketball final-lap battle. Cindric didn’t like We’ve got more to go!” So it’s How many NASCAR champion- the way Briscoe blocked him and good to have that perspective.” ships did Lee Petty win? Answer. week of August 10th, while six and a deep desire to reach his league focused on reaching the games will be played Saturdays tossed a water bottle at Briscoe’s While NASCAR forbids He won the 1954, ‘58 and ‘59 community. He created a sports surrounding community with car during the stage intermission. teams from doing any actual test- titles. between August 22nd and Sep- experience that met the unmet the message of Jesus Christ was third, ing, they can still practice on simu- Gerald Hodges is a syndicat- tember 26th. needs of children and their has grown into a nationwide followed by AJ Allmendinger, lated programs. ed NASCAR writer and author. His Registrants should attend families, focused on the sports movement helping churches , , Ri- In preparation for the Day- books may be viewed and ordered the evaluation that will be held experience and sharing the love use sports to engage their local ley Herbst, , Justin tona event, Stewart-Haas Racing online at Amazon.com. You may on Saturday, August 1st on a of Jesus Christ. This vision for communities with the gospel. Allgaier, and . (SHR) driver, spent contact him by e-mail at: hodges@ drop-in basis between the hours one community quickly grew Top 10 points leaders: 1. multiple hours in the Ford simula- race500.com.