Takedown Report

StarNews Wrestler of the Year: Hoggard’s Alec Sampson

Editor’s Notes; Catching up on news stories reported earlier in the year.
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Few opponents rivaled the 4A state champion at 160 pounds
There’s dominance and then there’s what Alec Sampson did to his opponents.
In his first season in North Carolina, the Hoggard junior was not only the area’s top wrestler. He was pound-for-pound one of the toughest in the state.
Sampson didn’t allow a takedown all season and only gave up one reversal. Even most escapes against Sampson were intentional so he could take the opponent down again and increase his lead. All his blood, sweat and tears paid off on Feb. 17. Sampson capped a perfect 31-0 season with a 7-3 decision over Broughton’s Christian Hite to claim the 160-pound 4A title. The success also helped Sampson to the StarNews All-Area Wrestler of the Year honor. “After almost every practice I would head over to Sly Fox Wrestling Club and train with Willie Hilton,” said Sampson, who spent his first two years of high school in Pennsylvania. “I pushed myself every day in the room and made sure my cardio was better than everyone else’s and also made sure I was mentally ready to go.” Only nine of Sampson’s matches went the entire six minutes. Two came against Hite and two were against West Brunswick senior Lincoln Smith. North Brunswick’s Darnel Brooks, the 3A 170 champion, lost by a 10-2 major decision to Sampson. Rest of the story at http://www.starnewsonline.com/sports/20180329/starnews-wrestler-of-year-hoggards-alec-sampson

August 27, 2018 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized