Southmoore's Zac Damico said his favorite time on the wrestling mat is the few moments right before the match starts. When he is standing alone, getting his mind right for what he needs to do over the next six minutes of fierce action.
Saturday, staring across the mat from him was Moore's Josh Lindsey. The two freshman were moments away from battling for the Class 6A 103-pound state championship.
"Right before that match, whenever you are staring at your opponent and you are like 'well, I feel pretty good, so let's go beat this guy,'" Damico said. "Nothing is equal to this. It's the best thing ever."
Damico's anticipation transformed into excitement when his hand was raised after defeating Lindsey 2-1 to earn the first state title in Southmoore's two year history.
"I was the first one at Southmoore, so it was pretty great," Damico said. "I really wanted to do it for my coaches because they have been relying on me for the team and stuff. I felt like a champion because they raised my hand. It felt pretty great."
Lindsey was the No. 1 seed heading into the match, despite the two wrestlers getting the best of each other during the regular season. However, none of that mattered when two rivals faced off. The winner was going to be whoever imposed their will upon the other. In this case it was Damico.
"We watched film, remembered how we wrestled him before and how we beat him before," Southmoore coach George Gregory said. "And went back to that same plan. We wrestled the way we wanted to, not the way he wanted to."
For Lindsey, coming up short of his goal was a hard pill to swallow. But he still enjoyed the entire experience of his first state tournament.
"I thought it was pretty good," Lindsey said. "A little disappointed I didn't win though. For the most part, I was pretty happy with the way I did. I didn't move enough on bottom I guess. Could have done a lot better than the way I performed."
Damico, who has been wrestling for six year, said winning state was his aspiration from the start. But Iitwasn't until later in the year that he fully realize he had a chance to do something special.
"At the beginning of the year, this was the main goal," Damico said. "It always has been and always will be. I had some doubts, but as we progressed through I got way more confident. Around regional, I took the metro tournament. After that I just blew up in confidence."
The championship may have meant as much to the Cat's coaching staff as it does to Damico.
"Anytime you win a state title, it's a huge thing," George said. " Especially for a young program. That kind of gives us somebody we can hang our hat on. Anytime you get a state championship, it's a big deal, Especially when it's a freshman. He was the only freshman in 6A to win a title this year."
Once he had secured his medal, talk about Damico winning again next year and beyond quickly followed. George said a 4-time state champion is rare, but Damico has what it takes to accomplish the task.
"I won it once, so three more times would be really great," Damico said. "Just like this year, it will take hard work and dedication."
However Lindsey doesn't want Damico to start making room in his trophy case just yet. He plans to have his hand raised in future championship matches.
"I think I will probably see him every year in high school," Lindsey said. "It will be different next time."
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