With three matches remaining in the 2012 Arkansas 6A-7A State Wrestling Championships, Coach Nika West and his Har-Ber Wildcats were looking for a way to cap off an already destined first team championship.
They took it in the form of 182-pound senior wrestler Ryan Harrison winning the individual crown, and 195-pound junior wrestler Nick Smith taking state runner-up, as well as heavyweight junior wrestler Ty Harrison.
Harrison (Ryan) clinched in the third and final overtime, beating out junior Kyson Larsen from Bentonville High School to give Har-Ber their second individual championship of the afternoon.
“Putting time in after practice and pushing my teammates, and myself, to the max each and every day,” said Harrison (Ryan). “This is what it’s all about.”
“It took every guy on this team to have the success we had this season, and I’m proud of them,” said West.
In addition to Harrison’s championship, freshman 106-pound wrestler Joey Adams won as well, defeating Jesse Johnson of Russellville, 6-5.
“[Now that he’s won as a freshman] he has a large target on his back, and everyone will be going after him,” said West. “I expect him to keep ahead, learn more, and do all the extra workouts to get back there in the next couple years.”
Smith, Harrison (Ty), senior 113-pound wrestler Dylan Collins, and fellow senior 160-pound wrestler Garrett Comer, who all hoped to join Harrison (Ryan) and Adams atop their weight classes, ended as state runner-ups.
Har-Ber ended the meet with 331 points, besting the field by an enormous 57 point margin. Little Rock Central finished second.
“We put everything we had into winning this,” said Collins. “And I know it sounds a bit cliche–but we put in blood, sweat, and tears to get what we wanted–and we did.”
On the day, the Wildcats totaled eight individuals placing in the top three. Har-Ber’s two individuals placing third included seniors 152-pounder Ty Kirkland and 170-pounder Luke Hanson.
“It’s a huge deal for us seniors winning it all,” said Hanson. “We worked our tails off for three years straight to put us in position for this, and it finally paid off.”
Hanson beat out junior Levi Brady from Bryant, 6-2, for the third place nod.
The Wildcats two individual champions marked the first wrestling championships in school history. And Harrison (Ryan) ended his career with an unbelievable 43-3 mark this season.
“The success he [Ryan] has had, has been huge for his confidence going forward,” said West. “He has come a long ways the past two years.”
Har-Ber will return an array of talent next year, led by Smith and Harrison (Ty). Followed by Adams and sophomore 145-pounder Jesse Weir.
