Chris Whitaker
AMERICUS — Ethan Smith and Bo Minor placed their names in Southland Academy's wrestling record book this season for career wins and career pins.
The two seniors hope to end their careers as state champions as the GISA state individual duals begin today at the Perry Agricenter. The tournament will also determine the state team champion.
"The ball hasn't gone my way or been in my corner," said Smith. "I think this year might be different from the rest. I think this is my year to win."
Smith broke Brett Collier's records this season as he has 144 wins and 94 pins; Minor has 112 wins and is second on the pins list with 78.
Southland has nine competing, and coach Mike Smith believes Ethan and Minor are the favorites to win the state championship in the 160 and heavyweight divisions.
"Bo hasn't seen any competition in his weight class as much as Ethan," said Smith, who is also Ethan's father. "They both most definitely will be ranked No. 1 going into the tournament. We know there's one kid on the North side Bo hasn't wrestled that's pretty good, and there are four to five real good wrestlers in Ethan's weight class. Ethan will have to work a lot harder to win his bracket.
Smith also thinks Ryan Sinlgey (119) and Chance Isreal (125) have chances to come out on top.
Southland has been one of the top teams in the state since Smith started the program in 2000. The Raiders have had a lot of success finishing in the top five each year, but this is the youngest team Smith has had.
"The thing you're going against wrestling younger kids is their knowledge of mat time and knowledge of the different wrestlers," said Smith. "Like any other sport, you take a young kid in front of a crowd, it's a different feeling. The biggest issue is probably experience and the adjustment to having fans or a crowd there."
Ethan and Minor have wrestled for Southland since the fifth and sixth grades, respectively, and both began competing on the varsity level as an eighth grader.
Ethan has had his share of bumps of bruises. As an eighth-grader, he finished third in the state. But he broke a couple of ribs at the state duals and didn't find out until the next day.
He broke his leg as a sophomore in football season and wrestled hurt, finishing fifth. Last year, he suffered a concussion in the semifinals at the state duals. And then a couple of weeks ago, he passed out in the doctor's office and has a scar over his eye after hitting the door.
"Just pray and thank God we've got insurance on him," Smith said. "The bumps and bruises you can expect, but some kids are more apt to get injured than others. The integrity and willpower of a kid is how they come back from injury. This year, he's primed and ready — knock on wood."
The injuries have made Ethan more determined than ever; that, and since this will be the last event he participates in high school.
"I'm determined and at the same time scared because of the past couple of years and what's happened to me," said Ethan. "I've been trying harder and harder this year than I have in past years. I've been going harder in practice, riding the bike after practice and lifting weights twice a day. My eating habits have gotten a lot better, too."
For Minor, it's been mental. He took over the heavyweight division after Collier graduated, and Smith said his maturity has paid big dividends as doubt has turned into confidence.
"Size-wise, not much has changed," he said. "Bo, to me this year, is a lot stronger and in better shape. His first year, he was very doubtful. A lot of times you get out there and worry so much about the person, you beat yourself before you get there. The thing we've been working with Bo is getting his confidence level built up.
"Confidence has been the biggest key to him getting out there. When you're in ninth and tenth grade and in the heavyweight division, you're wrestling juniors and seniors who are a lot stronger than you. He's confident this year, and it shows on the mat. He's going out there arrogant and knowing he can win."
Minor is the only unbeaten wrestler on the team at 19-0 in the heavyweight division. Ethan is 21-1, but 14-0 in the 160-pound division, and Ryan Singley is 18-1 in the 119-pound class.
A lot of Minor's opponents are bigger than him, but he's confident he can stay undefeated for the season.
"I've faced most of the kids, and there are a few unknowns," he said. "So, I know what's going on. I have to get the job done like I have the rest of the year. I can't lose if I want to be a state champion. This is what I've worked for eight years now, and it comes down to this. It's pretty important."
Smith said along with the four he believes can win the state title, two or three out of the remaining five could finish in the top four.
The Raiders' other five wrestlers are: Jake Hood (103); Matthew Garland (145); Lawton Williams (152); Andrew Alexander (189); and Brandon Jones (215).
"When you go to an individual competition, you want to go out there and try to win each match," he said. "If they can win a couple of matches, that's a good start for next year, especially with our younger wrestlers. We want to be realistic with the kids. I don't expect all nine to go win state. We want to wrestle well and wrestle hard. Their job basically, is to win and get the team points.
"These last two weeks, they have really turned it up. They've been running three to five miles every and live wrestling for 25 to 30 minutes. It's a good work out. Even though we're not taking the numbers we usually take, conditioning-wise, it's the best we've looked the last couple of years. As a coach, you want to make sure the kids are prepared. Now. it's up to them to do it on the mat."
Ethan said there's no other outcome for him and Minor than winning.
"If I'm not the one with the gold medal at the end of the tournament, it's going to be the biggest upset to me," he said. "In my mind, I know I'm going to have it no matter what. And if I don't get that, I'd be devastated.
"And if I don't see Bo Minor with one either, I'll be devastated about that, too. He is probably the one that should win it more than anybody. He's had a cakewalk all year, and I haven't seen anyone put up a fight against him."
