Lakeside wrestler pins down state title
Lakeside wrestler Tim Mitchem knew he would match up with Brian Scott, of Woodland, in the semifinals of the Class AAAA State Traditional Meet last weekend in Rome, Ga.
Lakeside wrestler Tim Mitchem won the state wrestling title during the State Traditional Meet over the weekend. He defeated Brian Scott in the semifinals and Jake Lagod in the final match to win.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Both were considered the top two wrestlers at 135 pounds, and most observers thought the two would meet in the semifinals when the brackets were released.
The bad news for Mitchem was that he had lost all three matches against Scott during his high school career, including in last year's state semis.
Mitchem is no longer winless against Scott.
On Saturday, Mitchem beat Scott in double overtime and went on to out-score Marist's Jake Lagod in the final match to win the state title. He is the county's first state wrestling champion since Lakeside's Justin Otis won the 160-pound title in 2003.
"I'm still excited," Mitchem said Sunday. "It is still sinking in slowly, kind of hitting me a little more as the day goes on."
Mitchem pinned his first opponent of the meet Friday and won his second round match-up by points. He won his quarterfinal match-up easily and then met Scott.
"I had a lot of confidence going into the match," Mitchem said.
"My mom made me a motivational book, and my family and friends kept my confidence level up. I just stayed positive."
Mitchem said his teammates were loud throughout the match and mobbed him after he defeated Scott.
"I knew he was my biggest test, but I couldn't let up," he said. "(Lagod) got to the finals for a reason. I knew I had to stay focused."
Mitchem beat Lagod 9-0 and was again mobbed by his team.
The Lakeside team finished ninth overall with Mitchem, Mike Ingham and Donovan Lowe placing.
Ingham finished fifth in the 145-pound class and Lowe nabbed sixth at 215 pounds.
Greenbrier junior Jay Adkins finished third in the heavyweight class after finishing 10th last season.