Wrestler of the Year

Luke Brandon

SCHOOL Bentonville

CLASS Senior

HEIGHT 5-10

WEIGHT CLASS 170

THE SCHOOP He finished his high school career as the winningest wrestler in Arkansas history and capped it by pinning three-time Class 1A-5A state champion Jimmy Noel in the Meet of Champions, avenging two losses to him in his junior season. Won 6A-7A state title at 138, 160 and 170 pounds and finished second as a freshman at 120. Finished his high school career with a record of 231-29 and 70-3 as a senior.

DID YOU KNOW Currently ranks 10th in his class of 998 with a grade-point average of 4.33. Will embark on his third mission trip over spring break — this one to Ecuador — after two to Guatemala. He hasn’t decided on a college yet, but has left to door open to wrestle in college. Wants to major in computer science.

QUOTABLE “I pretty much won everything like conference, state, team state. As far as the team goes, it went the best that it could have winning conference, state and dual state,” Brandon said. “Yeah, there are matches that I lost that I could have done better in. But you can’t go back and change that. I’ll remember all the fun times All the good duals, the good matches that I had, but most importantly everything about wrestling makes you a better person and a better man.

“As I go through my life I’ll be able to look at what I’ve done in high school and say that made me better. I am more dedicated or motivated because I’ve been through the darkness that is wrestling.”
