In this file photo, Lafayette's Brady Hart holds down Heritage's Michael Perkins in the championship round of the Region 6-AAA duals wrestling tournament at Southeast Whitfield High School.LaFAYETTE, Ga. - In a sport where success often goes hand in hand with emotion and raw aggression, Brady Hart is the exception.
Calm and cool, the LaFayette High School senior wrestler is a silent assassin on the mat. A two-time state medalist, the 152-pound Hart heads into the GHSA Traditional State Championships at the Gwinnett Arena as one of the title favorites in his weight class. It's a role his first-year coach, Keith Mariakis, says he's earned.
"I've never seen a more level-headed kid, especially one as talented as he is," Mariakis said. "He never gets too emotional. His attitude is like, 'I'm going to go out there and wrestle the best I can, and if I win, I win. If I don't, then I know I've done the best I can."
The key to Hart's success -- 31-4 with Area 3-AAA and Sectional individual titles this year -- is, according to Mariakis, relies in an unusually-simple approach to the sport. Like a John Wooden-coached basketball team, Hart doesn't want to be overloaded with information. Just the basics, please.
"He's told me that he doesn't want to learn a bunch of moves," Mariakis said. "He said give me five or six moves and I'll be the best at those moves. Sure enough, during a match, even though everyone he wrestles knows what's coming, he'll get his opening and his opponent will be on his back.
Hart isn't sure how he will handle being a favorite. After finishes of fifth and third the past two seasons, he knows he'll have to have a different mindset going in to a field he believes is there for the taking.
"I'm used to be more of the underdog, but since I've won at the area and sectionals, people will be looking for me," he said. "I think I'll be ready for it. I don't know much about the guys in the bracket, but they'll be good. I have a good seed, so hopefully the first couple of rounds will be a little easier."
Hart is the Ramblers' lone senior during a rebuilding season for the perennial state powers, and he's one of just five LaFayette wrestlers competing this weekend. The role of team leader hasn't come easy, but he he believes some of what he's shown in the practice room has rubbed off.
"It's a totally different situation this year," he said. "I'm used to having so many great wrestlers in front of me, and now I'm the one who's had to be the leader. We've got some good young wrestlers on the team, and I hope I've helped them see how hard work pays off."
Mariakis will be leaning on Hart this weekend. Two of the Ramblers competing are freshmen, including Mariakis' son, 106-pound Caleb Mariakis.
"Brady's been a great example for our younger kids," Coach Mariakis said. "He's not an in-your-face leader, but he's been a great calming influence. We're taking two freshmen, and I don't care what anyone says, when you walk into that building and step on that floor, it's different from anything you've ever done. Brady's been there, so he will help those guys, and I believe at the same time come out with a state championship."