- CCS News
- Homepage
Whetstone Wrestler Captures City League Title Four Times
February 24, 2021 -- Whetstone Senior Darric McClinton has won the City League Wrestling Championship for his weight class four years in a row. “I started wrestling my freshman year of high school because that’s what my football coach encouraged me to do,” said McClinton. “Coach said wrestling would help my strength and endurance on the football field.”
Even though football is his favorite sport, Darric has wrestled every year in high school. While he’s captured the City League title for his weight class, Darric is quick to downplay this year’s accomplishment. “Because of COVID, I only wrestled one guy and won the title,” said McClinton. Mom is quick to defend her son. “A win is a win,” said Latisha Collins. “I don’t care if you wrestle once or five times in the season. It’s a win. Look at the last three years when we didn’t have COVID. Darric still captured the title for his weight class. My son is a pretty humble guy.”
McClinton also doesn’t like to lose. “Darric is extremely competitive,” said Thomas Jones, who coaches football and wrestling at Whetstone. “I remember during Darric’s sophomore year when we were doing conditioning drills for football, Darric’s team was short of one guy doing full lap relays, so Darric said he would run the relay twice, and his team won. He really does hate to lose.”
Darric said he gets that competitive spirit from his mom. “It started at home,” said Darric. “Mom couldn't stand losing at board games. We play Sorry, and Trouble and she has to win every time.”
Mom Latisha Collins was a track star at South High school and competed in State Championships. These days she is all about encouraging her son. “Darric’s goal is to make it to the State Championship," said Collins. “I will help him get there; however I can.”
First, Darric has Sectionals on February 27 in Upper Arlington. “I’m focused, eating right, practicing, and learning moves,” said McClinton.
As a proud member of the graduating class of 2021, Darric McClinton hopes to play college football at Tiffin or Otterbein. “Maybe I will wrestle in college too, but definitely football,” said McClinton.