BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Branson Smith captured the KHSAA 285-lb. state wrestling title March 27, 2021, as a senior at Martin County High School. A year and a half later, he received his championship ring.

Smith’s fiancé Skyla Messer and the Martin County football coaching staff presented Smith with his ring last week before the Cardinal homecoming football game.

“It means so much to me to finally have a symbol of something I worked super hard for,” Smith said.

Smith was undefeated when he entered the match against Andrew Pottle (37-5) from Ohio County.

“There were so many emotions surrounding that match. I was so nervous because everything before had been all for that moment, all my hard work. At the same time, I was so ready and knew I had what it took to win,” said Smith.

“It was so exciting that when I won, I jumped up to celebrate and couldn’t. I had to just drop to my knees and cry. Crying because I had achieved this dream of mine and because I knew how hard I worked and how hard my dad and all my coaches worked for this.”

It took Smith 12 years of wrestling to reach that match – and 57 seconds to pin his opponent and win something he would remember for the rest of his life.

“Throughout my life, I have trained continuously to become the best wrestler I could be,” he said. “This ring is just a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Smith finished the 2020-2021 season with a 35-0 record.