MACON, Ga. — With no team title on the line or anything else to concern himself with, Jonathan Ragsdale wanted to go out in style.
The Gordon Lee High School 120-pound senior came into Saturday’s GHSA Traditional Wrestling Championships with a plan. Of course he wanted to win a rare fourth individual title, but Ragsdale also wanted to enjoy the moment — and at the same time put on a show. He accomplished all those things with a third-period pin over Social Circle’s Levi Leach, building a 22-7 lead before putting his opponent out of his misery.
“It’s a great way to finish it off,” said Ragsdale, a future West Virginia University wrestler. “Coach said I needed four more points and I got them. I guess getting the pin was icing on the cake.”
Ragsdale, as is his usual style, recorded three early takedowns and quickly let Leach escape. He recorded two more takedowns and a near fall to lead 16-5 entering the final period. When he had taken Leach down for the final time — escaping would have left him with a technical fall — Ragsdale put the clamps down and walked away with a smile.
“Johnny wanted to go out and wrestle some today,” Gordon Lee coach Brent Raby said. “He didn’t want to go out and be finished in 30 seconds in his last match in high school. He’s so tough and this is really a special moment for him. It’s a heck of a way to go out.”