By Mark Schmerling

Shorthanded as it has been, Polk County’s varsity wrestling team navigated its way to two wins in five meets in Saturday’s Blue Devil Duals at Brevard.

Against Brevard, Triston Watkins, Chase Emory and Anthony Marino recorded pins for Polk, but the Blue Devils edged the Wolverines, 42-36.

Facing Mountain Heritage, whose team was possibly hurt by the flu, Polk won the numbers game, recording ten forfeit wins, while losing only four matches — two each by fall and forfeit. In that contest, Polk crushed the Cougars, 60-12.

Following those two meets, Polk, with its own lineup riddled by injuries, lost a 54-24 contest to Ledford, the team that won the event.

The Wolverines then pulled off a 60-16 win over Thomas Jefferson, before falling to Chase, 54-30.

Wolverines coach Phillip Miller noted that some of his wrestlers are healing. He’s anxious to bring a full team to conference competition, which begins on January 6, when Polk hosts Avery and Rosman (the latter a non-conference team), starting at 5 p.m.

On Jan. 9, the Wolverines travel to Mountain Heritage, to take on the Cougars and Mitchell, both conference rivals.

Miller has been optimistic about the chances his team has, starting Jan. 6, as now-injured wrestlers are expected to return healed. A full complement of healthy wrestlers might be the best holiday gift for Miller.

About his optimism for Jan. 6, Miller reflected, “When you don’t have a full team, you have to point to something.”