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By Jed Blackwell

 

Polk County junior wrestler Zalen McCraw is putting together a phenomenal season. He’s doing it with plenty of talent and an amazing work ethic.

That’s led him to surpass 50 wins this season, with he and teammate Efrain Rivera topping the existing school record, with more competition ahead of him starting with Friday’s 1A West Regional at Cherryville.

“Honestly, it feels good,” he said. “I’ve been working hard and practicing in the offseason and all that. Last year I had 45, so really, I was trying to get there. I knew I just had to practice more and work hard in the offseason.”

The two on the other side of the column is just as important to McCraw.

“Oh yeah, I tried to eliminate those,” he said. “I put on my vision board that I was going to try to get less than five losses. Last year, I had 10. This year, I wanted five or less. And next year I’m probably going to go for three or less.”

McCraw won his second straight individual Mountain Foothills 7 title in late January, then scored a pair of pinfall wins in duals playoff matches against Hayesville and Avery, helping the Wolverines advance past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009. That’s something McCraw was expecting.

“I expect(ed) us to go far, because we’re a good team,” he said. 

He expects a lot of himself, too. After advancing to state and dropping a pair of matches last season, McCraw said that’s something that motivates him.

“That drives me a lot,” he said. “I mean, last year was the first time I’d been there. I went my freshman year to watch, but last year, I went and competed. There were some nerves and all that, and I feel like I could have done better. Now I feel like I’m more ready and more prepared to wrestle.”

Part of that preparedness comes from the culture around the wrestling program.

“I feel like we’re all like a big family,” he said. “The culture is different from any other sport, because we’re all in there together. When you’re on the mat, it’s just you, but you come together as a team to do your part and score points and win matches. It’s just different. You have to be mentally tough.”

McCraw certainly has that aspect down. He’s exhibited that mental toughness and an “anything to help” attitude across his career at Polk County. He’s a standout for the Wolverines on the football team, and last season, he went out for baseball to help fill out the team and increase numbers.

He ended up starting in left field.

“My brother was playing, and I talked to my dad and he said I could play, too,” he said. “I didn’t expect to start on varsity, because I haven’t played in a long time. I was practicing, and just like any other sport if you keep practicing you can get good at it. It’s just about working hard and getting better.”

That work ethic is something McCraw is widely known for, and something he’s proud of.

“I feel like I’m trying to hold myself to a higher standard,” he said. “I like to work hard. My dad always says to give 110 percent at everything you do, and you can be good and be successful.”