Benjy Scarbor

MOULTRIE – Building a life and career around the sport of wrestling in this southern portion of Georgia, Benjy Scarbor is beginning a new chapter in that life as Colquitt County High’s head wrestling coach beginning with the 2017-18 season. The Tift County High graduate and former Blue Devil grappler is scurrying over to lead the Packers after nearly two decades coaching in the Valdosta High School program.

When the 2016-17 school year and all of his commitments with the Wildcats ended, Scarbor immediately began coordinating summer workouts with Packer wrestlers this past week. Currently, they are attending a three-day camp conducted by Life University coaches and held at Cook High School. The rest of June not only includes morning practices, but also another camp (FCA) in Camden County and unofficial dual competitions both in the Colquitt County High gym and at Lambert High.

Scarbor graduated from Tift County High in 1993 and lettered there as a wrestler for four years. He stayed with the Blue Devil program to help coach for two years afterwards while attending Valdosta State University. In 1996, he joined Valdosta High wrestling as a community coach. Scarbor then became a full-time faculty member at VHS as a biology teacher in 1998 while continuing to coach Wildcat wrestling as an assistant. He became the head coach in 2004.

“I started wrestling when I was 12,” said Scarbor. “So it’s right at 30 years wrestling experience.

“I was one of those who memorized every move, one of those wrestlers who would win by knowing every little technical aspect. Wasn’t the most physical of them or who had the most speed and athleticism, so I had to memorize every single move and little details. It’s what I enjoy about wrestling; there are many different ways to compete. You don’t have to be a 250-pound lineman or a 6-7 basketball player to be successful. You just use the skills you have, whether it’s knowledge and endurance or strength and speed.”

All of the knowledge led Scarbor to being team captain his senior year at Tift. He remembers winning several rounds at the GHSA state tournament that final season.

“I think I’m more a better coach than I was an actual wrestler,” Scarbor admitted. “It is experience, just learning how to handle kids. Learning how to motivate each individual, treat each individual different. You find out which button to push for each one. Most of them need a hug at certain times, and they need a kick in the right spot at certain times. That’s the toughest thing about coaching. Many people can explain moves. How do you get the kid to respond to your coaching style is the biggest challenge.”

Valdosta High wrestling, prior to Scarbor’s arrival, had just one state champion in its history (Tim Castro in 1975). Under Scarbor since 2004, nine Wildcats brought home state titles, 35 in all placed at state and the region champions number in the 60s. That includes state champion Jamal Scott, at 171 pounds, in 2005. There’s also Allen Scurggs, who escaped a hold with three seconds left to win at 215 pounds in 2009. Scarbor said the team placed in the top four of state at least three times.

“We had a lot of success there,” said Scarbor. Now it’s time to bring success to Colquitt County, a program he certainly knows about from competitions as region rivals. The Packer head position became open when Evan Goff resigned to take the wrestling coaching job at South Forsyth High School in Cumming.

“I was raised in Omega. My wife is also from the Omega/Ellenton area,” said Scarbor. “Always been intrigued to move back to the country life after growing up on a small farm. I have two boys in high school and wanted them to experience country living.

“I was contacted by a few folks over here, asked me to come over for an interview. I wasn’t looking to make a change, but after talking with them and talking it over with my family, we decided it would be a great opportunity for us. After you’ve been at one place for so long, a change of scenery and a change of pace will keep you motivated. Valdosta is the only place I ever taught or coached, so I would like to see how things work in Moultrie after my 20 years experience in Valdosta.

“As long as I’ve coached against the Colquitt County Packers, they have always been hard fighters. Always extremely well respected for integrity and sportsmanship.”

Scarbor will bring his approach and techniques, which he said is about connecting moves to other moves in order to achieve a flow on the mat.

“I want us to think about winning a state championship in year No. 1,” he said. “I want us to obviously start in the region and move on to state. I don’t want us to say, ‘Give me a couple of years to put it in.’ I want pressure on us right away.”

There are two chances to win GHSA championships in wrestling, the team duals and the traditionals that involve weight class brackets with points that lead to a team title along with the individual awards. Scarbor said the dual approach may involve such strategies as moving a wrestler up one weight class to gain an advantage.

“It’s all about matchups,” he said. “Your lineup could change from early January to early February.”

On June 9, there will be dual wrestling at Colquitt County High featuring the Packers, Locust Grove, Coffee, Ware County and Cairo. Scarbor said there will not be team scoring here as the goal is to give the wrestlers match time. The FCA camp in Camden will be fairly intense with more chances to wrestle Florida and Georgia teams.

“Right now I’m trying to fill my staff,” said Scarbor about other immediate plans. “Learning everybody’s name. Evaluating what I have. I only saw (Colquitt) in one tournament (last season) since our regions changed. I know a few on the team from years past. I’m eeing the little details they need to improve on and getting to know the whole wrestling program.”

At Wednesday’s practice, Scarbor welcomed middle school age wrestlers. His goal is to have a full middle school, junior varsity and varsity team so that wrestlers of all grade levels will gain experience.