16 Sports ● The Catamount
Friday, Feb. 7, 2014
Family SmackDown
Brothers compete with another to become better at one sport they love by Alex Miller Staff Reporter Some siblings are complete opposites and have no common interests. For brothers Patrick and Carter Clouston though, wrestling is a sport they can enjoy together while competing against one another at the same time. “I think it’s pretty cool [to wrestle with Patrick] because he’s my brother.” Carter said. “[It’s] good because he knows more about wrestling than I do,” Patrick said. “I can go to him to know what to do and learn how to do stuff which I am less experienced in.” For brothers especially, being better than the other can be something that keeps them going, the constant battle to see who can be at the top. The Clouston’s though, each had opposing views on competing and being better than the other. “I always want to do better than him and see if he can do better than me to have a competition going on throughout the year,” Patrick said. Carter does not feel the pressure however, “because we’re in two different weight classes.” They both agreed that Carter is the better wrestler. Carter, a junior, is taller than Patrick, a sophomore, by a few inches and is also more experienced along with being older than his brother. When the two faced off together, however, it was an interesting outcome. “[We’ve gone] in practice, and I don’t like going against him,” Patrick said, “because he’s bigger and taller than I am, and he’s also kind of better.” “I [beat him] about three-fourths of the time,” Carter said, “Sometimes he wins.” The tactics on being a great wrestler take time, from learning the proper holds and moves, to the mental game; it can be a tough sport in many aspects. One must learn from mistakes as well to perfect a game of skill and technique. “I’ve really worked on my technique to get better [this
“[I focus on] not getting overwhelmed by who you are facing,” Patrick said, “because you may be 5-8, and he may be 14-0, but he might have faced worse opponents than you, and you go in and win because you are not jittery and prepared to lose, but you are prepared to win.” The two brothers have also put up some impressive performances this season, each doing better at separate meets. Patrick placed first in his class at the Sam Houston Meet going 5-0 while Carter’s best outing was at the Cy-Fair Tournament at the Berry Center. He advanced to the third round of the Consolation Bracket. At College Station High School, the standard is set high in all categories from sports, academics to fine arts, and everything else in between. The Clouston brothers have big dreams as well. “[I want to] get past district and go to regionals,” Carter said. ▲ Patrick and Carter Clouston assume their positions as they pre“I want to try and get to state because last year I went to pare to practice against each other. Photo by Alex Miller ● regionals,” Patrick said. “I also want to get first in district because last year I got fourth.” offseason],” Carter said. Two brothers with a bold passion for one sport they can “I’ve been improving my shots in Period One, which is each enjoy together, and with their minds set on nothing but neutral,” Patrick said. “I’ve been trying to take better shots winning, they have the bar raised to the highest level. There and make better setups.” is only one thing left to do, be the best they can be.● Preparing for an individual match or meet the proper way is vital for a clutch performance. Some athletes do certain exercises or wear special socks, but they each have their own methods of preparation. Four boys and one girl for the Cougars advanced to the “I hang back and wait for my number to be called, I 4A state wrestling tournament, which begins today and will stretch to get loose, I stay quiet and look for my competition conclue tomorrow in Garland, Texas. and just scout him out,” Patrick said. Competing for the Cougars are “I concentrate on what I’m going to do so I can do my Cameron Ward (126) best at it,” Carter said. With many different parts to a sport, each athlete can tend Tell Ward (132) to value a certain pillar of their game. Bri White (138) “[I want to do] the best I can for my parents to impress Patrick Clouston (182) them and also go to regionals or state,” Carter said. Carter Clouston (195)
Five wrestlers advance to State
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“Our goal is to play to the best of our ability, and if we do that, we will win State.” Photo by Alex MIller
Nick Kennedy, junior
THSBCA Preseason 3A Poll - Jan. 22 1. College Station 2. Caldwell 3. Pleasant Grove 4. Melissa 5. Sinton 6. Silsbee 7. Argyle 8. Carthage 9. Bridge City 10. La Vernia
The CSHS basbeall team is ranked #1 in the THSBCA Preseason Poll. The Cougars are looking to win a state championship. Every starter returns for the team, and with talent everywhere, the odds of accomplishing that goal are high.