By Thomas Sellers Jr.
It took two months longer than he wanted, but Millington Trojans Head Wrestling Coaches William Richardson and Jeremy Haley finally got a chance to celebrate one of the best seasons on the mat for the black and gold in a quarter of century.
In the banquet room of Lighthouse Church in Millington located at 3719 Shelby Road. After the coronavirus pandemic postponed the original banquet scheduled for March 29, the time to recognize the grapplers from the 2019-20 season was Thursday night.
After a pasta dinner served by members of the Trojan Wrestling Booster Club, Richardson took to the microphone to give a season recap. He started the night recognizing the Mat Girls of K.C. Cent, Kenzie Withers, Maddie Roberts, Averianna Smith, Ema Leigh Stafford, Abagel Angelica Alaniz, Chloe Regret, Katie Graves and Maliyah Smith.
Richardson and Haley then turned the spotlight on the wrestling team’s finishing as runner-up in Region 4-A-AA duals and individual tournaments.
There were moments of fun with Richardson giving out three speciality awards. The first went to senior Tim Andrews for Biggest Loser after dropping 38 and half pounds.
Next up was the Stomping on My Last Good Nerve Award going to DeAnton Yarbrough. Last winner in the speciality award category for the Pig Prize for gaining the most weight after the State Tournament went to senior Jaden Tincher. He packed on 11 and half pounds.
Tincher was the final award winner of the night taking home the Outstanding Wrestler prize for the second year in a row. He graduates with two title belts.
His parents Stephanie and Jeremy Tincher were presented with The Trojan Rock award for years of dedicated service to the program in various ways.
The elder Tincher was given the microphone during a portion of the event to reminisce about the journey of the program from less than 5 wrestlers to holding 23 on the roster this past season.
Tincher bragged on the success of the Region 8 Runner Ups Jaden Tincher, Malik Wooten, DeAnton Yarbrough, Milton Yarbrough, Brian Hernandez, Jaydon Monroy, Drew Hasenberg, Verdo Young, Lonzell Blackwell, Garrett Haley, Jahmir O’Kain and Eli Robert.
Tincher found kind words to say about the quartet of seniors his son, O’Kain, Andrews and Young.
Young, Tincher and O’Kain were a part of the Trojan Nine that reached State in 2020. Also reaching Franklin were TJ Graves, Hasenberg, Haley, Blackwell, Milton Yarbrough and Wooten.
Malik Wooten stole the show during the award portion winning Most Team Points, Most Pins and Best Win Percentage.
Graves was the winner of Big Win of the Year beating the No. 1 heavyweight in the state during Regionals. Mr. Takedown went to Haley with him racking up 50 during the season.
Top Newcomer was Hasenberg and Top Freshman was Wesley Bishop. And with a 4.25 grade point average, Eli Roberts was the Top Student Athlete.
Looking forward to continuing the success, the Trojans will host the Regionals in February 2021. And through years of fundraising, Millington Wrestling ordered a new mat May 15. It will be picked up from Texas in July.
