Wayne Trace senior Hunter Long capped off an incredible high school wrestling career by taking home the 132-pound Ohio state wrestling championship.
"My biggest goal was always to win a state title," Hunter tells the Parkview Sports Network. "Finally achieving the goal is a relief because wrestling takes a told on your body."
Hunter started his state finals experience on Friday, March 11, with a 16-3 major decision over a wrestler from Ridgewood to advance to Day 2 matches.
In the Saturday quarterfinal, Hunter edged his Wellington foe with a 11-9 overtime win. In his semi-final match, Hunter had to beat his Crestview opponent in a tiebreaker to move on to the state championship match on Sunday.
In that contest, Hunter defeated his South Range opponent 5-2 to win capture the 132-pound state championship.
Making Hunter's run to a state title even more impressive is that he battled through a knee injury the latter-half of the season.
Hunter finished his senior campaign 45-1. His lone defeat coming at the Tri-State Border Wars in the 138-pound weight class.
"When I lost [at the Tri-State Border Wars], I knew I had to get into shape. I made the decision to cut weight." He wrestled the first half of the year at 138 pounds before dropping to 132 pounds.
Hunter started wrestling at age 4, begging his dad to let him take the mat after watching Wayne Trace compete at the Thunderbirds Invitational more than a decade ago.
"I've always worn a Wayne Trace singlet," Hunter says. "It's a family foundation. It makes you feel at home."
Hunter qualified for state all four years of his high school wrestling career. As a freshman, he qualified at 120 pounds, he qualified at 126 as a sophomore, he placed fourth at 132 as a junior before winning at 132 as senior.
He is the third Raider in school history to win a state wrestling championship.
Senior teammate Jarrett Hornish, who won the state championship in the 126-pound division a year ago, finished third at state in the 138-pound division; and freshman Corbin Kimmel finished eighth in the 106-pound weight class. It marks the first time in school history that three Raider wrestlers have placed at the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Finals.
Wayne Trace is one of 26 high schools that partner with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, nutrition, sports performance, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for Raider student-athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.