Nash seeks state title

The Red Raider senior wrestler will be among 16 wrestlers in Class AAAA’s 132 lb. weight class seeking a state title this weekend in Macon.

“I think he’s got a shot,” said Red Raider wrestling coach Ritchie Houston. “Any state tournament is all about confidence. You don’t get there unless you’re good. So it’s about being able to win the close ones.”

Whether or not Nash leaves Madison County with a state championship, the wrestling standout has etched his name in MCHS wrestling history in two ways over the past two weeks. He won a region title and he surpassed Isaac Ruiz for the school record in career wins. Ruiz had 157 and Nash now has 160 after going 3-1 this past weekend and finishing second in the 132 lb. class at the state sectionals. He lost the sectional finals 6-2 to a wrestler from Locust Grove.

“It was a really close match; they were both battling and no one could score,” said Houston of the sectional finals.

Nash is now 48-4 on the season.

Madison County’s Eric Smith also qualified for the state with a fourth-place finish in the Region 8-AAAA 152 lb. weight class, but Smith was knocked out of the sectionals with two losses this weekend.