Only 15, Josh Lindsey wasn't supposed to have this type of success. The Moore grappler has wreaked havoc on the wrestling scene in just his first year on the high school mat.
"Josh has been our most outstanding wrestler of the year," Moore coach Robert Washington said. "He has only one loss on the year. He has recovered from that loss and beat the kid that beat him earlier in the season."
Lindsey's one defeat came at the hands of Yukon's Cooper Finch. But Lindsey paid him back last week during the Yukon tournament.
With that win, Lindsey rose to the top-ranked 103-pounder in Class 6A. It's a position he never thought he would be in this soon.
"No, I did not," Lindsey said. "My coaches really pushed me and my teammates help a lot to."
Before recent weather issues slowed him down, Lindsey had been on a roll. Besides winning the Jay Hancock Tournament, he earned two pins Tuesday in duals against Lawton and Edmond Memorial.
Though his success has been sudden in prep circles, it hasn't been so sudden for Lindsey, who's been paying his wrestling dues for a long time.
"Josh has been with me since he has been in little league at 4-years old," Washington said. "Josh has always freestyled and (done) summer wrestling. The old adage is summer wrestling makes winter champions. That is exactly the experience he is having right now. Josh strongest asset is his workout skills. He is in constantly in the room. He almost beats me to the room."
Even if Lindsey doesn't quite see that in himself,
"The season started out pretty difficult but I picked it up," Lindsey said. "I started working hard."
Before the season began, Lindsey's expectations were pretty tame. He figured he would have several more losses to his name and he just wanted to qualify for the state tournament. Instead, he has readjusted his goals to include winning it all.
Lindsey is one year removed from being crowned the junior high state champion. Winning a state title at the next level could be in the cards.
"I am going to take it one step at a time," Washington said. "I'm not going to jinx my kids because I have done stuff like that before. I think the sky is the limit for Josh. But he still has a lot to prepare and do."
Like learning to wrestle with a target on his back. Now a known commodity, he's bound to get each opponent's very best when stepping on the mat.
"Once you get to the point where you feel you are not chasing anyone, and you feel like you are being chased, that's when you stop having success," Washington said. "We just got it in his head that he has to keep chasing all these people."
Sports
Crushing expectations · Freshman moves up to No. 1 in the state
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