Over a quarter of a century. That’s how long it had been since Hixson High School’s wrestling program last had an individual state champion. HHS senior Landon Goforth broke that curse, as he calls it, during the 2016 season, cementing his name in Hixson history.
“It was a combination of things,” Goforth said of his achievement. “I had the determination this year. I got so close last year, and that hunger for the championship followed me throughout the season.”
Despite the team’s championships in 2009, 2010 and 2014, an individual champion remained elusive, though many Hixson wrestlers, like Goforth, got tantalizingly close to reaching the top spot over the past several seasons.
Goforth also cited his sense of urgency as a motivating factor this season. If he didn’t win this year, he wouldn’t have another opportunity.
“I knew I couldn’t hold back; I had to let it all out on the mat,” he said. “I didn’t want to go home for the last time [in] second place.”
A resident of Hixson nearly his entire life, Goforth has received nothing but praise from his coaching staff and teammates during his time on the team. He said his community and team are a big reason why the championship is so important to him. Seeing his name on the wall at Hixson High and knowing he proved that his school is capable of producing champions is something he’ll always take pride in.
Goforth gives a lot of credit to his coaches for his win. Coach Garrick Hall and his staff create individualized plans for their wrestlers based on the coaches’ observations in practice and in competition. The set of moves Goforth used to become the state champion were completely different than what his coaches recommended earlier in his high school career, he said.
“It felt like we’d been cursed the last few years. Everyone had made it so far, but struggled in the finals,” said Goforth. “Schools were saying that we just choke and that Hixson wouldn’t have another champion. I knew I had to be the one to break that curse.”
Wrestling at the collegiate level is something he said he’s interested in. He has several options on the table, but hasn’t yet committed to one, he added.
Email Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com.