By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – Ashton Anderson has a bright future, but he’s beginning to see the darker side of human nature.
His South Effingham wrestling team won a state title a year ago during the dual season, then he captured an individual state championship by winning the 285-pound weight class during the traditional portion of the season.
South is breezing through the team competition again this season. Anderson, a senior, is undefeated. Another double dose of success seems on the horizon.
But hang out long enough on the top of the mountain and some people want to see you fall.
“Coach Bringer says you don’t have haters unless you’re doing something right,” Anderson said “I think our success makes (every tournament) more stressful. But it also makes you work harder to stay at the top. I think it’s driving us.”
Anderson recently signed a scholarship to wrestle at Newberry College in Newbery, South Carolina.
More reason to hate?
Maybe for some. But it’s hard to root against the fun-loving, free-spirited 6-foot-4, 245-pounder who is sometimes affectionately called “Big Bird.”
Don’t let the name fool you. He showed the steely heart of a champion by outlasting his opponent in four overtimes to win the state title.
Earlier this year, he held off Brunswick’s River Creel to score a 6-5 victory in the championship match of the Rebel Invitational. A week later, Anderson came off his back to win in Richmond Hill.
Newberry wrestling coaches saw Anderson firsthand at their camps the past two summers. They’ve had some success recruiting the area after luring Effingham County High’s Isiah Royal (an eventual Division II national champion) and Zebrandon Gant.
“Newberry treated me and my school very well. I liked the people on the team and the smaller school,” Anderson said.
Entering last week’s action in Florida, he was 33-0, still in the running for a perfect season with his teammate and fishing buddy Brandon “Moose” Bringer.
“Ashton has a great chance to be a two-time state champion,” SEHS coach Christopher Bringer said. “He has a great attitude. He doesn’t take things too seriously, but he’s serious enough to do the right things to be successful. Right now, I’m just trying to keep everyone humble and hungry.”
Anderson started wrestling in sixth grade, but abruptly stopped when he broke his leg ice skating while trying to avoid a younger kid who had fallen in front of him.
“The kid was OK, at least,” Anderson said, recalling the story.
The next season, Anderson was back playing football as an offensive lineman and wrestling.
This season, Anderson, who admits to losing his passion for football, notched first-team all-region honors while leading running backs in the Wing-T offense.
“I’ve always been the type of person who once I start something, wants to see it through,” Anderson said. “That’s why I played football (this fall). Now, in wrestling, I want to win it all again.”
