As Monday afternoon morphed into Monday evening at McKenzie Arena, Conner Ward was working about as hard as a 141-pound college wrestler can work one day before the start of a tournament as big as the Southern Scuffle.
Moving furiously over one of the eight mats covering the facility’s floor, his steps short and quick and explosive as he repeatedly moved in a tight circle, his shoes often squeaking loudly against the mat, he produced more than a few expanding sweat stains on his (Arkansas) Little Rock Wrestling practice attire.
Only thing was, there is no Little Rock wrestling team this season. Ward is a team to himself, a true freshman from Shawnee, Kansas, flying solo until the Trojans’ wrestling program officially begins a year from now under coach Neil Erisman.
“My coach got me in,” said Ward, who was born at Erlanger hospital and lived in Chattanooga for two years before his father Scott left the Brach/Brock candy companies for Hostess. “I can wrestle in four open events without it counting against me. This is the last one.”
So why put yourself through such exhausting work and expense – Ward is on his own dime (or at least Scott’s) for everything from travel to lodging to food – for what amounts to a glorified exhibition match?