Moore looks to end high school career with gold

By Ryan McCracken on March 10, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

It’s been a long time coming for Cash Moore.

The Grade 12 Hawks wrestler picked his first victory in a matter of seconds at the Alberta Schools Athletics Association provincial wrestling championships on Friday at Hat High, but Moore admits there was a time when wins didn’t come so easy.

“The first year I started wrestling I didn’t win one match all year. But through coaching, they really get you to work hard, and I’ve gotten a lot better since then,” said Moore. “I was so nervous coming in, I’m just glad I got that one out. Now I feel more confident.”

Moore hit the mat in tenacious fashion and quickly assumed control of his first round match against Jared Guth of Calgary’s Robert Thirsk High School, and within a minute his arm was in the air with a 10-0 victory. But it’s only the start. The win sends Moore forward in the 59 kg division while giving him the chance to close out his high school career with a gold medal around his neck, and in front of a home crowd to boot.

“This will probably be the final tournament of my career and I’m happy to finish it off at home,” said Moore, adding he stuck to the fundamentals against Guth. “I felt his base was a little high. I tried snapping him down and that didn’t work so I just shot for the legs and worked his upper body. I got him over a few times and that got me some points.”

Hat High wrestling coach Darren Klein added Moore’s story isn’t an anomaly, as many of his wrestlers have gone through uphill battles in order to find success on the mat since he started the program nine years ago — but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable every time it happens.

“I’ve had kids that haven’t won matches for a couple of years, but the mere fact that they keep coming to practice and they keep working hard, it’s the true meaning of sport. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about the desire,” said Klein. “I hope that (Moore) gets out what he put in today and this weekend.”

The ASAA provincial wrestling championships continue Saturday, with medal matches penciled in for around 2 p.m. at Hat High.