Hillsboro senior duo focused for state championships
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro seniors Kordell Ford and Ryan Kelley will represent the Hillsboro Indians this weekend at the 2014 OHSAA Division II State Wrestling Championships, and they both have one word on their minds: "focus."
The focus for each wrestler was evident this week as they prepared for their final matches as members of the Hillsboro wrestling team.
For Ford (160 pounds), this is the third time he's qualified for the state championships, and for Kelley, this is his first trip to the biggest stage in high school wrestling, but either way you look at it … these two want to have their best showing in their final high school matches.
Ford, who has wrestled a total of nine years, knows the pressure of being at the state tournament as a three-time state qualifier, but he understands that placing two years ago as a sophomore doesn't make it any easier as a senior.
Making it this season, his final season, was a little different, according to Ford.
"It was different because it was my last time to qualify for state," he said. "Honestly, I was more excited to see Ryan go to state. I was more pumped for his placement match than mine, because he's always wanted to go to state.
"It was still exciting, because qualifying for state is always exciting."
[[In-content Ad]]As a junior, Ford was unable to wrestle due to a medical default, and not being able to wrestle as a junior and missing another opportunity to place at state weighs in the back of his mind. You could say he used it as motivation this season.
"That's been on my mind since the day after weigh-ins last year when I knew I wasn't going to wrestle," Ford said. "It put a bad a taste in my mouth because I knew I had a chance to place again last year.
"It has always weighed on my mind … no doubt about it. After that, it made me more focused and aware."
Coach Nathan Horne said the district tournament was a big part of the two seniors reaching the state tournament, as HHS had four wrestlers place at districts.
"We had a good district tournament," he said. "We placed all four kids. Even with Matt (West) and Toby (Warrington) not making it to state, they wrestled hard, and we appreciate everything they did for us this year.
"With the two seniors going to state, we are excited because they have a chance to go to the podium. I know it sounds cliché, but we have to take it one match at a time, because there will be a lot of close matches, and points are hard to come by."
Kelley, who'll wrestle at 120 pounds, spoke about the moment he realized he made it to state, as he placed third at the district tournament last weekend in Wilmington.
"It felt really good, and I've worked hard for that the past few years," Kelley told The Highland County Press. "I finally made it, and now I'm going to do all I can to make the podium.
"I've done a lot … made weight every tournament, had good drilling partners in every tournament and wrestled well at tournaments. We've all had good coaching this year, which is a big help."
Kelley, who qualified for the junior high state tournament in eighth grade, enters the state tournament at 36-3 overall this season. He not only placed third at districts, but was second at sectionals and was the 120-pound champion at the South Central Ohio League tournament.
"Ryan hasn't been to state but has wrestled in a lot of tournaments the past four years," Horne said. "He wrestles a lot in season and out of season, so he should be mature enough to handle it well.
"It was nice to see Ryan break through and make state. It is always good to see a wrestler of his caliber make it. It is always a goal for every wrestler to call themselves a state qualifier, and he has that on his belt now. Now we need to get him where he can call himself a state placer."
In the district tournament, Kelley went 4-1.
"At the beginning of the year, I knew if I could cut down to 120, which is my weight class, I could do well. I ended up winning every tournament (regular season) we went to.
"Our coaches pushed us really hard, more than in the past, and that helped."
This season, Ford is currently 31-3 overall, as he went 5-1 at districts where he placed third. Ford was also second at sectionals and was the 160-pound champion of the SCOL.
"Kordell has been there before, so he knows what it is about and knows what he needs to do," Horne said. "With the medical default last year, that was disappointing, but he's bounced back from that.
"He's wrestled tough this year, and it was good to get him back to Columbus again and see what he can do this year."
In 2012, he was fourth at the state tournament.
"I've had a pretty good season," he said. "There were a couple tournaments I didn't get to wrestle in that I wanted to, but it was still a good season.
"What I liked this year was the energy in practice this year. We didn't have any bad attitudes, and everyone went fairly hard all year, which helped out a lot at the end. There was a lot of hype for me in getting back to state, and that drove me extra hard throughout the season and that motivated me."
Since he began wrestling in the fifth grade, by making his first trip to the state tournament, Kelley said there is some nervousness, but that is expected for rookies of the state tournament and for veterans of the state like Ford.
"I'm nervous for it," Kelley said. "I wrestled at state in junior high, but state at the high school level is way different and tougher. I'm just going to have to wrestle tough, get through my matches … take them one at a time and hopefully end up on the podium."
Ford had the same feeling as his teammate.
"This time, I want to wrestle a little better and wrestle smarter," Ford said. "Just knowing it is my last one, it is kind of bittersweet. That's the word I've been using all week … ‘bittersweet.’
"Having the last practice, but like Ryan, I just want to take it one match at a time and try not to let anyone beat me. It is a different feeling at state. You don't realize how big it really is until you get that first match out of the way. I'm definitely nervous."
In looking back at the season, Kelley said there was one match that stood out.
"My second match at districts … I wrestled a kid I beat last year, and this time we went into triple overtime. I got to choose the position I wanted to start the third OT with. I chose to start at the top and was able to get the win.
"That was by far my toughest match of the year."
Ford used a rare loss as a motivator.
"The second time I wrestled Ben Schram stands out," he said. "I had a lead on him, but he got me in the last few seconds. It wasn't my favorite match because I lost, but it let me know I can compete with him and let me know where I was at.
"It showed me I wasn't going to just walk though this and showed me there are kids out there that are just as good as I am. It was a good reminder that I can't take matches or practice lightly because it shows. That match showed me to take nothing for granted and no match is easy."
In thinking about what lies ahead at the state tournament, Kelley is looking forward to the test of wrestling the best the state has to offer.
"I'm looking forward to the tough matches," Kelley said. "I didn't have a lot of tough matches this season, but when I did I was able to pull them out.
"Walking through the tunnel is something I'm also looking forward to. I've heard that's the best thing you can do."
Ford also spoke about what he's looking forward to and what walking through the tunnel is like for him.
"Walking out of the tunnel is crazy," he said. "It is really quiet when you are in there, and they call your name and walk out … you look up and it is a crazy feeling. So many people watching and walking out is one of the best feelings you will have as a wrestler."
With the biggest matches of the season awaiting them, both Kelley and Ford know they are a big part of the tradition of the Hillsboro wrestling program, a program that has sent wrestlers to state seven of the past nine years.
"I'm finally glad I made it, but every practice, every tournament, keeping weight … everything, it was worth it," Kelley said. "In my matches at state, I want to give my all and not give up because it is the last time I'll wrestle in high school."
"Like Ryan said … I just want to give my best," Ford said. "Hillsboro has always had a good tradition of wrestling, and I hope that continues. I hope we can put two more placers on the wall, and maybe the younger kids will use this as motivation.
"There is a lot of potential on the team."
Both wrestlers ended by saying thanks to their parents and coaches.
"I want to thank my mom and dad … everyone who had been there for me," Kelley said. "James Jones, I have to thank him because he helped me get started in the sport.”
"I want to thank my mom, dad and my uncle Bryce, James Jones … and all of the coaches," Ford said.
The focus for each wrestler was evident this week as they prepared for their final matches as members of the Hillsboro wrestling team.
For Ford (160 pounds), this is the third time he's qualified for the state championships, and for Kelley, this is his first trip to the biggest stage in high school wrestling, but either way you look at it … these two want to have their best showing in their final high school matches.
Ford, who has wrestled a total of nine years, knows the pressure of being at the state tournament as a three-time state qualifier, but he understands that placing two years ago as a sophomore doesn't make it any easier as a senior.
Making it this season, his final season, was a little different, according to Ford.
"It was different because it was my last time to qualify for state," he said. "Honestly, I was more excited to see Ryan go to state. I was more pumped for his placement match than mine, because he's always wanted to go to state.
"It was still exciting, because qualifying for state is always exciting."
[[In-content Ad]]As a junior, Ford was unable to wrestle due to a medical default, and not being able to wrestle as a junior and missing another opportunity to place at state weighs in the back of his mind. You could say he used it as motivation this season.
"That's been on my mind since the day after weigh-ins last year when I knew I wasn't going to wrestle," Ford said. "It put a bad a taste in my mouth because I knew I had a chance to place again last year.
"It has always weighed on my mind … no doubt about it. After that, it made me more focused and aware."
Coach Nathan Horne said the district tournament was a big part of the two seniors reaching the state tournament, as HHS had four wrestlers place at districts.
"We had a good district tournament," he said. "We placed all four kids. Even with Matt (West) and Toby (Warrington) not making it to state, they wrestled hard, and we appreciate everything they did for us this year.
"With the two seniors going to state, we are excited because they have a chance to go to the podium. I know it sounds cliché, but we have to take it one match at a time, because there will be a lot of close matches, and points are hard to come by."
Kelley, who'll wrestle at 120 pounds, spoke about the moment he realized he made it to state, as he placed third at the district tournament last weekend in Wilmington.
"It felt really good, and I've worked hard for that the past few years," Kelley told The Highland County Press. "I finally made it, and now I'm going to do all I can to make the podium.
"I've done a lot … made weight every tournament, had good drilling partners in every tournament and wrestled well at tournaments. We've all had good coaching this year, which is a big help."
Kelley, who qualified for the junior high state tournament in eighth grade, enters the state tournament at 36-3 overall this season. He not only placed third at districts, but was second at sectionals and was the 120-pound champion at the South Central Ohio League tournament.
"Ryan hasn't been to state but has wrestled in a lot of tournaments the past four years," Horne said. "He wrestles a lot in season and out of season, so he should be mature enough to handle it well.
"It was nice to see Ryan break through and make state. It is always good to see a wrestler of his caliber make it. It is always a goal for every wrestler to call themselves a state qualifier, and he has that on his belt now. Now we need to get him where he can call himself a state placer."
In the district tournament, Kelley went 4-1.
"At the beginning of the year, I knew if I could cut down to 120, which is my weight class, I could do well. I ended up winning every tournament (regular season) we went to.
"Our coaches pushed us really hard, more than in the past, and that helped."
This season, Ford is currently 31-3 overall, as he went 5-1 at districts where he placed third. Ford was also second at sectionals and was the 160-pound champion of the SCOL.
"Kordell has been there before, so he knows what it is about and knows what he needs to do," Horne said. "With the medical default last year, that was disappointing, but he's bounced back from that.
"He's wrestled tough this year, and it was good to get him back to Columbus again and see what he can do this year."
In 2012, he was fourth at the state tournament.
"I've had a pretty good season," he said. "There were a couple tournaments I didn't get to wrestle in that I wanted to, but it was still a good season.
"What I liked this year was the energy in practice this year. We didn't have any bad attitudes, and everyone went fairly hard all year, which helped out a lot at the end. There was a lot of hype for me in getting back to state, and that drove me extra hard throughout the season and that motivated me."
Since he began wrestling in the fifth grade, by making his first trip to the state tournament, Kelley said there is some nervousness, but that is expected for rookies of the state tournament and for veterans of the state like Ford.
"I'm nervous for it," Kelley said. "I wrestled at state in junior high, but state at the high school level is way different and tougher. I'm just going to have to wrestle tough, get through my matches … take them one at a time and hopefully end up on the podium."
Ford had the same feeling as his teammate.
"This time, I want to wrestle a little better and wrestle smarter," Ford said. "Just knowing it is my last one, it is kind of bittersweet. That's the word I've been using all week … ‘bittersweet.’
"Having the last practice, but like Ryan, I just want to take it one match at a time and try not to let anyone beat me. It is a different feeling at state. You don't realize how big it really is until you get that first match out of the way. I'm definitely nervous."
In looking back at the season, Kelley said there was one match that stood out.
"My second match at districts … I wrestled a kid I beat last year, and this time we went into triple overtime. I got to choose the position I wanted to start the third OT with. I chose to start at the top and was able to get the win.
"That was by far my toughest match of the year."
Ford used a rare loss as a motivator.
"The second time I wrestled Ben Schram stands out," he said. "I had a lead on him, but he got me in the last few seconds. It wasn't my favorite match because I lost, but it let me know I can compete with him and let me know where I was at.
"It showed me I wasn't going to just walk though this and showed me there are kids out there that are just as good as I am. It was a good reminder that I can't take matches or practice lightly because it shows. That match showed me to take nothing for granted and no match is easy."
In thinking about what lies ahead at the state tournament, Kelley is looking forward to the test of wrestling the best the state has to offer.
"I'm looking forward to the tough matches," Kelley said. "I didn't have a lot of tough matches this season, but when I did I was able to pull them out.
"Walking through the tunnel is something I'm also looking forward to. I've heard that's the best thing you can do."
Ford also spoke about what he's looking forward to and what walking through the tunnel is like for him.
"Walking out of the tunnel is crazy," he said. "It is really quiet when you are in there, and they call your name and walk out … you look up and it is a crazy feeling. So many people watching and walking out is one of the best feelings you will have as a wrestler."
With the biggest matches of the season awaiting them, both Kelley and Ford know they are a big part of the tradition of the Hillsboro wrestling program, a program that has sent wrestlers to state seven of the past nine years.
"I'm finally glad I made it, but every practice, every tournament, keeping weight … everything, it was worth it," Kelley said. "In my matches at state, I want to give my all and not give up because it is the last time I'll wrestle in high school."
"Like Ryan said … I just want to give my best," Ford said. "Hillsboro has always had a good tradition of wrestling, and I hope that continues. I hope we can put two more placers on the wall, and maybe the younger kids will use this as motivation.
"There is a lot of potential on the team."
Both wrestlers ended by saying thanks to their parents and coaches.
"I want to thank my mom and dad … everyone who had been there for me," Kelley said. "James Jones, I have to thank him because he helped me get started in the sport.”
"I want to thank my mom, dad and my uncle Bryce, James Jones … and all of the coaches," Ford said.