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B2 March 5, 2020 The Chronicle Craig-Blakely makes his mark onthemat BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE It’s no accident that Jemel Craig-Blakely be came a conference cham pion, considering he hates to lose. The Central Pied mont heavyweight cham pion was on his way to the - state wrestling meet, but was unfortunately called for a questionable foul. Now, his goal is to avenge that loss as a senior next year. Craig-Blakely is a defensive tackle for the Glenn Bobcats football team. He took up wrestling a few years ago as a way to stay in shape during the football offseason. Admit tedly, he was not very good his first year, but once he gave the sport his all and received the proper coach ing, his career began to takeoff. “At the beginning of the year, my goal was to become all conference, but I didn’t think I would do as well as I did . this year,” said Craig-Blakely. “My coaches really helped me get to where I am this year.” Prior to this season, Craig-Blakely says he did nothing to prepare himself for the year, mostly be cause he was not planning on participating in wres tling. But due to urging from his mother, he decid ed to give it another shot. “I wasn’t even going to wrestle this year, but my mom forced me to by taking my phone away,” he said jokingly. “After last year, I didn’t think I was very good, and I didn’t want to go out there and lose some more.” Jemia Blakely, Jemel’s mother, said, “I wanted him to try out a second sport, a fallback sport outside of track, because he does the field events. I wanted him to use his weight to his advantage and I knew he could move Submitted photo Jemel Craig-Blakely was this year’s Central Piedmont Conference heavyweight champion in wrestling. well to be a big boy. I knew since wrestling is not a mi nority sport, they were go ing to think he wouldn’t be successful, but he was. I just wanted him to go out there and show them he could do it.” This past season, the Bobcats captured their first team conference champi onship in 27 years. Blake ly was proud that her son was a part of that, especial ly since wrestling is not a sport African Americans flock to. According to Craig- Blakely, he began the sea son. slowly, but quickly turned it around and won 16 matches in a row. That winning streak allowed him to build the confi dence to continue doing well on the mat. “During the streak, I just thought I could actu ally be good at wrestling and maybe go to college for it, if football didn’t work out,” he said. “My plan is to go to state’s next year and hopefully place top four or better.” Even though Craig- Blakely suffered a tough loss during the regional round, he says he will use that as encouragement for next season. “I was pretty mad after that loss, but then I started to think that I wasn’t sup posed to make it that far this year,” he continued. “I went beyond my original goals for this year.” Another benefit of wrestling for Craig-Blake ly is that it helps him with his footwork, athleticism and staying in shape for football. Being an ath letic heavyweight, Craig- Blakely feels that gives him an advantage over many of his opponents who are bigger and slower. After the season, sev eral of Craig-Blakely’s friends asked him about possibly wrestling. He is happy to be an inspiration to other African Ameri cans to try the sport. ncIMPACT THURSDAYS AT 8PM ON UNC-TV CONVERSATIONS WILL FOLLOW. UNC^TV MS & More ini T TNTf^ SCHOOL OF Jal wiNV> GOVERNMENT FEDERAL CRED-fT UNION SUPPORT PRODUCTION OF LOCAL CONTENT WITH IMPACT- STATEWIOE AND BEYOND. CALL OR TEXT DONATE TO 1-800-984-9090. SALEMTOWNE Salemtowne Speaker Series Salemtowne proudly presents a robust speaker series featuring extraordinarily talented men and women whose work in the arts, sciences and academics is innovative and significant. These disciplines were purposefully chosen to honor the work in which early Moravians made significant contributions. A Conversation with Tim Redmond Heirloom Plants of and Rachel Barton Pine Old Salem Timothy Redmond, Music Director of the Kinston-Salem Symphony Monday, March 9 at 3 p.m. Tim Redmond will discuss his role as new Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony. The presentation will feature a violin performance by the internationally renowned Rachel Barton Pine. Eric Jackson, Head Gardener- Old Salem Museums & Gardens Thursday, April 2 at 3 p.m. Eric Jackson will share his personal insights, anecdotes and stories about Old Salem Museums & Gardens’ nationally recognized historic plant collection. Thursday, May 7 at 3 p.m. Building Community Through Writing and Art Jaki Sheiton Green, North Carolina Poet Laureate . Jaki Shelton Green will offer her diverse perspective about her role as ambassador for North Carolina’s rich literary tradition. This, project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Free and Open to the Public The Salemtowne Speaker Series will be held in the Salemtowne Community Center - Smith Saal. To register for one or all the events, please email joinus@salemtowne.org or call 336.714.2157. GPS driving directions: 190 Moravian Way Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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