Darton College is pleased to announce the addition of wrestling as the next intercollegiate sport at Darton College. The program will begin competing as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association for the 2008-2009 academic year. Darton College will become a leader in two year intercollegiate wrestling programs in the southeast by offering the first NJCAA wrestling program in Georgia.

A successful wrestling program won't be anything new to the Darton College campus. Darton College first formed its club wrestling program in 2005. The program has had nearly 100 wrestlers in its short history, including 9 national qualifiers and 3 All-Americans. The team, led by first year head coach Josh Watts, currently has a 5-2 record and is ranked as the 7th best collegiate club wrestling program in the country.

Darton College's 11 intercollegiate sports and 200 student athletes represent the most comprehensive two year athletic program in Georgia. Darton College Athletics is a member of the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association and the National Junior College Athletic Association and competes regionally and nationally in the sports of golf, men's and women's swimming, softball, men's and women's soccer, basketball, baseball, men's and women's cross country, and now wrestling.

Darton College is a two-year unit of the University System of Georgia, located in Albany (population 100,000), the hub of southwest Georgia, surrounded by rural cotton, pecan and peanut farms.

The 180-acre campus on Albany's western edge includes a state of the art Physical Education/Athletics/Wellness complex. The facilities include Cavalier Arena, a Recreation Gym, Fitness Center, Aerobics/Dance Studio, Natatorium, indoor walking track and classrooms. Additional outdoor athletic facilities include baseball stadium, softball stadium, and two soccer fields. Additional recreational facilities include a climbing tower and wall, tennis courts, outdoor racquetball courts, sand volleyball courts, and activity fields.

Darton College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award certificates and associate degrees. Darton serves a seven-county population of over 150,000. Opened in 1966, Darton College enrolls nearly 5,000 students in two-year transfer programs, career programs, and one-year certificate programs.

Darton prides itself on student success, as measured by its two-year graduates' high pass rates on state licensing tests and their success after transferring to four-year institutions.

For further information please visit www.darton.edu

or contact:

Mike Kiefer
Director of Athletics
michael.kiefer@darton.edu

Josh Watts
Head Wrestling Coach
josh.watts@darton.edu

Darton wrestlers move up to No. 7 in the nation
(Courtesy of the Albany Herald)

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — The Darton College wrestling club, ranked seventh in the NCWA, finished second in its first home dual meet, losing, 39-7, against top-ranked Central Florida in the final Saturday.

“I thought we wrestled pretty well for the most part,” Darton coach Josh Watts said. “Obviously we could have done better, but we’re getting better each week.”

Darton, before losing to Central Florida, defeated Florida A&M (55-4), Louisiana State (54-3), Florida State (65-0) and Middle Tennessee State (52-9).

One thing Watts wanted his team to learn from the Central Florida match was how to defend against certain moves, some of which led to pins.

Wrestler Jake Skelton believes something can be learned from those losses.

“I think we can come back,” he said. “We freeze up in certain matches and it really shouldn’t be that way.” And although Darton lost by a lopsided score to Central Florida, Corey Wilson pointed out a particular fact.

“I think we’re getting better every day,” he said. “A lot of the matches were close. The score didn’t tell the entire story.”

Currently, there are 11 Darton wrestlers ranked nationally. They include: Dakota Puryear (125-pound weight class, ranked 8th); Aaron Foust (133, 12th); Jarrett Williams (141, 5th); Scott Ricker (141, 12th); Corey Wilson (149, 6th); Colby Booth (157, 7th); Zach Shaw (165, 12th) Giovante Graham (175, 4th); Zach Toman (184, 15th); Josh Hyde (197, 7th); Teddy (235, 5th) John Hill (285, 7th).

The Darton Wrestling team took home a 2nd place finish at the Cavalier Dual Tournament this weekend after posting a 4-1 record on the day. At the midway point of the season, Darton has a team record of 5-2, with both losses coming against top-ranked University of Central Florida. Darton has finished in the top 3 at every tournament they have entered and boasts one team championship as well. Currently, the team is ranked 7th in the nation.

Darton Wrestling Results from Cavalier Duals: