PROCTORVILLE — OK, last year was new, exciting and fun. Now, it’s time to get serious.
Fairland Dragons senior wrestler Will Callicoat is making his second straight appearance in the Division 3 state tournament and for him it’s going to be like day and night.
The experience from last year coupled with making it this year caused Callicoat to think about the differences between the two state trips.
“It felt crazy seeing the place and walking out and seeing that many people looking at you from the stands,” he said about last year’s state tournament.
“I won’t be as nervous this time and I’ll be more ready for my matches.”
While he might have just been happy to qualify for the state tournament last year, he said there will be no consolation prize. His goal is to win the state tournament in his weight class.
It will take a lot of effort and really sharp, quick movements to win,” he said.
Callicoat wrestles in the 190-pound weight class and has racked up an impressive 44-4 record this season.
“I wrestled hard at practice and lifted everyday during the off-season and during the season,” Callicoat said of what helped produce his great senior season.
Callicoat was third at the district meet as he qualified for the state meet. Callicoat beat Jackson McNeal (47-7) of Huntington in a 5-0 decision. Callicoat is the No.3 seed in the 190-pound division.
Callicoat’s teammate C.J. Graham will be making his fourth straight state tournament. Graham is one of the top seeds after finishing state runner-up last season.
Callicoat also plays football and not only does he enjoy playing both sports, he is very good at them, too. Besides making the state wrestling meet twice, he was a Southeast Ohio first team all-district lineman in Division 5 and was named All-Ohio.
While he has success in both, he does have a preference.
“Probably football,” said Callicoat. “The practice isn’t as bad and there’s no better feeling than getting a big hit or a sack or making a big play.”
Even though his preference is football, he said wrestling has really helped him be a better lineman.
“I feel like wrestling helps a lot with strength and mobility and being able to move around people in football,” said Callicoat.
High school athletics have been a lot of fun and given Callicoat some great memories and experiences, but he doesn’t plan to play at the college level.
However, he does plan to continue being a lineman, but not the same kind of lineman.
“Lineman work is what I am interested in doing,” Callicoat said of the profession of installing and repairing cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
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