Putnam City West High School’s wrestling team was named the State 6A Wrestling Academic Champion during the Feb. 28th state wrestling tournament at the State Fairgrounds. The award means the team had a higher grade point average than any other 6A wrestling team in the state. Putnam City West wrestlers had a cumulative GPA of 3.654, topping the other 31 teams in 6A.
It’s the second time in three years Putnam City West wrestlers have earned the state academic championship. The team also won in 2008.
“I attribute this to all our wrestlers, students who made the decision to truly be student-athletes. These students have high aspirations. Some may wrestle in college, but many may not. Regardless, though, they plan to attend college to better their lives. They have goals and a strong focus on those goals,” says John Hancock, head wrestling coach at Putnam City West.
Credit for the recognition also goes to families who support the team, Hancock says.
“The parents of these young men deserve thanks. They support their kids on the mat and in the classroom. They push their kids to excellence in all that they do,” Hancock says.
Wrestlers on the Putnam City West team this year were:
• Will Bumpus
• Thomas Byus
• Luis Callente
• Juan Cervantez
• Jon Crawford
• Dustin Davis
• Hasani Duncan
• Davon Green
• Daniel Hernandez
• Tyler Hostetter
• Tyler Loudenback
• Chase Martinez
• Thomas Moser
• Malcolm Tubbs
• Carson West
• Kasey Wilcox
• Joseph Wilcots