Marietta Time Article on Ashton Packard "PACKARD ON TOP"

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Packard on top
Belpre grappler owns a 30-1 record so far this season


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Heading into the Amanda Clearcreek wrestling tournament Jan. 17 Belpre senior Ashton Packard was on the verge of a record he never dreamed he'd own.

Entering the match Packard had recorded 153 wins in his career with the Golden Eagles.

At the end of the day, after going 5-0 in the tournament, Packard had picked up his 158th win to become Belpre's career leader in wrestling wins.

"I was pretty excited. There's been a lot of good wrestlers come out of Belpre. Just to be listed as the most wins at Belpre, it felt real good," Packard said.

A week after picking up his fourth title in four tries at the Logan Elm tournament, where he went 7-0, Packard knew he was close to the milestone.

How close was something of a mystery, though.

"I knew that I was real close," Packard said. "After the match my dad and Scott (Adams), the head coach, told me."

This season Packard has complied a 30-1 record wrestling predominantly at 160 pounds, where he's listed fourth on the Brakeman Report of the best wrestlers in the state.

When necessary, however, Packard hasn't been afraid to bump up a class to grapple at 171 pounds to find tougher competition.

"Ashton's got a good mental attitude. He likes to compete. He's willing to move to where the competition is," Adams praised.

Both Packard and his coach are hoping that philosophy helps him as he works his way towards what's hopefully a berth in the state tournament.

Getting to state is definitely the goal for Packard, who is focused more on that goal than the records he picks up along the way.

"I don't really think about numbers. I just think about placing at state," Packard said.

With the goal of placing at state at the forefront of his mind Packard has been putting forth plenty of extra effort to make his goal a reality.

A good work ethic is one of the aspects that has helped the Golden Eagle become a standout in three different sports on the varsity level.

Packard has earned recognition from the Tri-Valley Conference and Southeast District in football while also being honored by the TVC in wrestling and baseball.

Wrestling certainly seems to fit his skills as an athlete and combined with his strong work ethic Packard has emerged as a leader for his young Golden Eagle teammates.

It's also helped him become the most successful grappler in school history.

"He's a good role model for the entire team. He practices hard and he wrestles extremely hard and it's paying off for him," Adams said.

A good student with a high GPA Packard is also the type of kid his coach never worries about, knowing he's ready for the task at hand.

The next scheduled task at hand for Packard and the Golden Eagles is the TVC tournament, though with the current inclement weather that's subject to change.

Regardless of when he's next on the mat it's a certainty that Packard will be out there giving it his all and working to improve on the record for most wins at Belpre.

"It makes me want to work harder," Packard said of having the mark.