The Murfreesboro March

State-bound Bulldogs

Monday, March 5, 2007 . . . On this day, the Wartburg Central High Bulldogs successfully fought off both defensive and offensive attacks from the University High Buccaneers to advance to the first round of the boys’ state basketball tournament. This win marks the first time in the 93-year history of the school that an athletic team has advanced to state competition.

Boys’ coach Joe Layne described this victory as one of the most exciting of his career. Anthony Rogers describes it this way, "I came in nervous after last year's substate game, but once we started flowing I knew it was our night for victory." Led by four senior starters, this determined team fought off a late rally by the Buccaneers to post a 74-65 win before hundreds of screaming, excited students and Bulldog fans. Tyler Winstead said, "It was intense, but I knew the whole time we would be victorious. It feels good to make history."

The team has a lot of heart and they truly epitomize the saying by General George Patton, "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." The boys rose from disappointing losses in both district and regional championship games with this victory. Now they are only 3 victories away from achieving the goal they set as a team that they would win state.

Their next opponent is Humbolt, Wednesday, March 14. Coach Layne said this about the Vikings, "They're a tough team. This is their third year in a row in the state tournament. They went to the semi-finals last year. A couple of years ago they went as a (class) AA team."

We wish the team the best as they represent Wartburg, Morgan County, and east Tennessee in Murfreesboro! Go Blue!!!!

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