When you look at Hunter Yeargan’s high school wrestling career as a whole, it’s hard to call it anything other than impressive; he has a career record of 182-8 (including two seasons with just one loss), he’s a four-time state qualifier, three-time All-Stater, perennial district and conference champion, and a Class 3 state champion for the Willard Tigers.
But it didn’t end the way he envisioned.
Yeargan fell in his final high school match as a senior in the 195-pound state title match. He lost a 4-3 decision in the waning seconds.
“I had wrestled my opponent [Jared Rennick from Washington High School] two or three weeks in a row prior to that,” said Yeargan. “I went into the match stagnant. I wasn’t doing much, just trying to get by. There were 30 seconds left and I was up by a point. I trip, and next thing I know he’s behind me and it's over in the blink of eye. I was in shock for a while.”
The loss was his only one of the year. He finished 53-1.
“It took me about a week before I could even think about it. It’s over now and I just need use it as motivation.”
Luckily for Yeargan, his wrestling career is far from over. The Male Athlete of the Year nominee will begin anew next year at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He will wrestle at either 184- or 197-pounds for the Bobcats.
“I’ve got an opportunity to come right in and start as a freshman,” he said. “I’m really excited to get up there and get into the college lifestyle, get on the mat and see what it’s like to be a D1 athlete. I’ve waited my whole life for this.”
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Aside from an amplified workout regimen, which is something he took pride in this season, Yeargan will call upon a recreational hobby to help him on the mat in college.
When he was 8 years old, Yeargan began bow hunting with his dad. Since then, he’s taken an interest in competitive shooting. He still shoots his bow on a regular basis at BowFreaks Archery in Mount Vernon.
“My dad got me my first bow, and a couple years ago I took the next step and got into competitive shooting,” Yeargan said. “I tore my pec last year, but after that healed I've gotten back into the swing of things. I’m a very competitive person in everything I do. I have to be the best at everything I do. If I can find a new sport or hobby to fulfil that need, I’ll do it. Shooting bow is just one of those things.”
With Yeargan, you’ll find a rare blend of competitiveness and simplicity. His competitive spirit propelled him as an athlete, but there is something he enjoys about a simple, laid-back lifestyle.
When he’s not wrestling or playing football, he spends his time with his family. He really enjoys being outdoors fishing, hunting, and shooting guns and bows. He said he’s been fishing just about every day this summer.
Yeargan acquired a level of focus and discipline with his bow. Now he can see the correlation between wrestling and bow shooting.
“They both take an insane amount of practice,” he said. “A lot of it is muscle memory for both sports. There is quite a bit of pressure with both. I get the same rush shooting a bow that I do in a wrestling match. That’s probably what attracts me to it.”
His hobby – along with the experience gained from his disappointing finish as a senior – will serve him well as he pursues a qualifying spot in the NCAA national wrestling tournament at Ohio.
And he’s preparing for something else, too. The laid-back lifestyle beckons.
“I always imagined a big farm in east Texas, just taking care of some cows and living an easy, simple life. That's what I imagine. Life just happens and we'll see how it goes.”
