Statesboro wrestling is not an old program nor a traditionally successful one, making this season a special sort of anomaly.
    For the first time since its inception in 2011, the Blue Devils have qualified for the state tournament after placing second at their area duals last weekend. They’ll be one of 16 teams from class 5A participating in Macon this weekend.
    “It’s mind blowing to me,” said junior 138-pounder Ethan Reeves. “I still can’t believe we’re actually going to state.”
    It’s been a long road to hoe for Reeves and his teammates who’ve been with the program for more than a year. Take junior 113-pounder Kasey Baynon for instance, who’s been wrestling for Statesboro since she was in eighth grade and is now on her third head coach.
    “I can’t even remember who it was an eighth grader,” Baynon said in regards to the revolving door of coaches at Statesboro. “They’ve changed out every two years.”
    It’s no secret basketball runs things at Statesboro during the winter time, as they should given both girls and boys successes over the years. However it’s made things tough for the wrestling team in terms of trying to get any sort of recognition.
    Part of that comes with the success just hasn’t been there. Last season, Statesboro only won two matches against South Effingham. This season, Statesboro has won 19 dual matches.
    How does that success just pop up overnight? Baynon says retention is probably the biggest factor towards their run to state this season.
    “We’ve brought in new people and we’ve been able to keep them too. Last year we started with probably 100 kids and we finished with maybe a third of that,” Baynon said. “We kept everyone and everyone improved. It’s been much more of a building process this year.”
    Statesboro has been able to fill out all of their weight classes this season, something that’s been different over the past couple of years. Another factor to consider has been the new area for Statesboro to participate in.
    What used to be a 16-team area has been cut down to five, and since Wayne County doesn’t field a wrestling team Statesboro only has to deal with New Hampstead, Ware County and South Effingham.
    Statesboro beat South Effingham to get into the finals against Ware County, and despite losing to Ware County it was a nice step for a Statesboro team that hadn’t experienced much success in the past.
    “We didn’t have much of a chance in our old area, now that we have a smaller group of teams to compete with it’s made the path a little easier for us,” Reeves said. “They’re still good teams, but it’s smaller now.”
    Perhaps the one thing that’s escaped the whole equation is the first year head coach, Bo Viness. Viness was only a sophomore at Georgia Southern when Statesboro wrestling was conceived, but now at 24 years young he’s got Statesboro’s wrestling team headed in the right direction.
    “It’s been a great experience. I didn’t expect to be a head wrestling coach this early in my career,” Viness said. “It’s supply and demand, there was a demand and we filled the role. I’m still practicing too and trying to make myself better.”
    Viness was around the program last year when he was a first years teacher and coach for Statesboro’s football program and track team. Viness himself was an accomplished wrestler in his high school days, but never envisioned a day where he’d be in charge of the entire program.
    When he did finally take over he did think going to state wasn’t that crazy of an idea. Outside of Ware County Viness knew Statesboro was going to be good enough to compete against the likes of South Effingham and New Hampstead.
    “I expected success this year, wrestling pretty simple you get out what you put in,” Viness said. “We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year.”
    The wrestlers have enjoyed the change of pace in the different philosophies between Morrison and Viness, particularly the amount of time on the mat they get to spend during a Viness practice.
    “There was a lot more condition and a lot less mat time with different coaches,” Baynon said. “I think it’s better being on the mat more.”
    The team -- both coaches and wrestlers -- agrees they hope out of this run to state the program can get some more recognition. As mentioned earlier, it’s been tough for the program to get any publicity living in basketball’s shadow. Now with a state qualifying season, Statesboro might have a reason to keep bringing in more bodies for next season.
    “It’s a building block. Hopefully it’s going to get people out here and join to help build the wrestling community more,” Baynon said.
    At 19-8, Statesboro will face Union Grove in the opening round today at 3:00 p.m. If they win, SHS will face the winner of Cass and Decatur later that night at 7:30 p.m.
    If the Blue Devils lose, they’ll still wrestle at 7:30 but it’ll be the loser of the Cass-Decatur match.