Another season of promise, ended too soon.
“To not have closure at the end of the season leaves a person with disbelief,” University of Central Oklahoma wrestler Heath Gray said. “Who could have ever predicted something like this would happen at the time it did?”
Gray had already made the trip up to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the NCAA Division 11 Wrestling Championship tournament was being held, when he heard the news and the event was cancelled.
“It’s a real shame because every wrestler’s goal is to be a national champion of an ALl-American,” he said. “The entire season is all in preparation for that one tournament. To have that opportunity taken away is very devastating on an athlete.”
This season, Gray’s record was 26-1, losing only once to an Oklahoma State University wrestler. Gray was walking into the tournament as the number one seed, ranked number one in D2 wrestling and was favorite to win the tournament.
“To miss out on the opportunity to win a national championship, especially going in as the favorite and number one seed at the national tournament, feels as if all the time and preparation was for nothing,” he said. “The season is a grind and it strains the body both physically and mentally.”
Gray has another year of eligibility to wrestle, but is unsure whether or not he will use it since he is graduating this year.
Gray has been wrestling for 19 years.
“I began my first season of little league at Chandler in the winter of 2001,” he said.
Throughout his career as a wrestler he has pinned many titles and awards including the UCO Regional Champ twice, MIAA Wrestler of the Year, All-American Wrestler two years in a row and had the highest winning percentage for the 2019 season.
Gray graduated from Chandler High School in 2015. He wrestled in high school and won the State Championship.