Most superstar athletes have been playing their sport since the time they could walk.  Nolan Smith (12), one of three of Portage Northern’s State Qualifiers, started his wrestling career in seventh grade.  Ever since then, Nolan has built upon his game and is now a senior and one of the best wrestlers in the state for his weight class.

As far as the sport itself, wrestling is one of the most physically demanding sports around.  “It’s very demanding, and one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” says Smith.  Smith was runner-up in the district finals (which he won last season)and won regionals to qualify for his third state tournament.  Smith finished fifth at states for the second time in his career capping off an amazing season in which he notched tournament wins at both Holt and Salam and was the SMAC champion for his weight class.

With his high school career at its end, Smith finished the season with a 51-4 record, and has 161 wins placing him as third all-time in Husky history.  Though he doesn’t plan on wrestling in college, he does hope to attend the University of Michigan. “My favorite college is Michigan,” Smith says.

Northern is saying goodbye to a stellar student-athlete, and he certainly ranks among the best wrestlers to have ever competed for Portage Northern.