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Walrod caps stellar season with second place at state
By Larry Lewis
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In a battle of two undefeated combatants at the summit of their sport, only one arm can be raised in victory.
However, the loss certainly doesn't diminish the accomplishments of the other.
So it is with Nevada High School's outstanding wrestler Zach Walrod.
Walrod climaxed a stellar senior season with a runner-up finish at the 2004 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday.
Walrod, a 145-pounder, lost an 8-1 decision in the final to Mary Institute-Country Day School (St. Louis) junior Peter Miller, ranked No.-1 in the state. Walrod is third.
Miller, a formidable competitor who compiled a 47-0 record this season, already had two state medals in his trophy case. He won a state championship in the 130-pound division as a freshman, then finished third as a 140-pounder last year.
"He's the best I've seen," said the gracious Walrod, who captured his first medal in his fourth visit to state. "I have a lot of respect for him as a person and a wrestler."
Although he fell just short of his wrestling life's goal, a state championship, Walrod had one of the most successful seasons in Nevada High School history. His 35-1 record included a district and sectional championship. He was the only Southwest Conference and District 6 athlete to reach the finals.
He became the seventh Nevada wrestler to reach the finals in the 34-year history of the program. Eric Denney was the last with a second-place finish in '91 in the 189-pound class.
The last Nevada state champion was 160-pound Monte Padgett in '90.
"Not getting the (state) championship was the most disappointing factor," Walrod said. "It's disappointing to lose the final match of your high school career, but a lot of good things happened this year. That last match just wasn't to be."
Nevada coach Larron Hurst described the final match as "six minutes of chaos between two great competitors."
"Zach had a great state tournament and, in the end, he walked off the mat with his head held high," said Hurst. "I've had him for two years and there's no one that worked harder. He was relentless."
As for the future, Walrod would like to continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level.
Thus far, Missouri Valley College of Marshall, Mo., a strong program which won the 2003 NAIA national championship, and Central Missouri State University have expressed interest.
The ultimate tribute to Walrod, who will certainly be remembered with the best in the annals of Nevada High School wrestling, was this Hurst comment.
"I wouldn't trade Zach Walrod for any wrestler in the country."