Winning one state championship in any sport is certainly difficult. Winning four of them in four years can be a downright overwhelming task.
Oak Grove senior wrestler Connor Brown seemingly made the impossible possible by capping off a perfect 47-0 season to win his fourth Missouri Class-2 State Championship. He won the state championship in the 120-pound weight division and finished his stellar career with a 173-5 record. Brown became only the 26th wrestler in state history to win four state championships.
"It was great for him to go out that way. You know, he's had a great career. We've got a lot of successful wrestlers at Oak Grove High School. And, he's definitely put his name up there with the best," said Panthers Wrestling Head Coach Bobbe Lowe.
Connor also helped the Panthers win their 17th team championship overall. The feat allowed Oak Grove to capture the record for the most team championships in Missouri state history.
"I think the biggest is going every day, working hard, getting better on things that you need to work on and keeping your eye on what you want," Connor said. "And, I set out my goal out my freshman year to win four state titles. So, after the first one, I knew that it was a reality that I could, you know, actually do this. And, it ended up becoming true and it's amazing."
In addition to the stellar career that he has had, Connor was invited to the 2017 Blue Chip Metro Classic this past Tuesday. It was a showcase of the best wrestlers in Kansas & Missouri. He's also a two-time Academic All-State, 2015 Missouri Class-2 Wrestler of the Year and ranked as the 6th best wrestler in the nation at the 120-pound weight division among other notables.
Lowe knows that type of success takes blood, sweat, tears and incredible heart.
"Connor had the opportunity to go out and represent himself and put himself as one of Missouri's best state champs of all-time," Lowe said. "Plus he got to seal the deal for the team. And, it was awesome that we could kind of put that on him and we knew he would be the guy to do the job for us."
Not only has Connor had a successful high school career, but he'll also get to continue on to the collegiate ranks. He will wrestle on scholarship at Division I South Dakota State in the fall.
"South Dakota State is a really up-and-coming program now that they're in the Big 12 and they're Division 1. You know, Coach [Chris] Bono does an excellent job up there," Lowe said. "And, he's looking to get the best guys in the Midwest. And, I think Connor's one of those guys. [He's] maybe a little bit of a diamond in the rough you know. And, it's hard to find a kid that will probably be a lifer at 125 pounds. And, that's what he's gonna be."
Connor attributes much of his growth to those teammates and coaches that have been around him for years.
"Without my Oak Grove coaching staff, I would not be the wrestler, the young man that I am today. They have grown me into an amazing wrestler," Connor said. "My technique has gone up. My work ethic has incredibly gone up. I wouldn't have four state titles without them."
NOTE: The Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week segment airs every Thursday night during the 10 p.m. sportscast for the entire school year.
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Ryan Marshall can be reached at Ryan.Marshall@KSHB.com.
