Fannin County High School freshman Blake Summers comes from a long line of talented wrestlers, which helped him gain experience, and win the Region 8-AA individual State Championship.
Summers father, Trent Summers, was a two time state champion winner at Northside High School in Warner Robins, and his uncle Travis Summers, was a three-time state champion at Fannin County High School. Travis is also in the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame as Fannin’s most decorated wrestler, but Blake has done something neither Travis nor Trent has been able to do, which is win the state title as a freshman.
Summers had an uphill climb from the start of the season, as a dirt bike injury side-lined him for the entire preseason. Summers’ father, Trent, helped Summers workout and condition during his injury, and continued after Summers returned to practice. The hard work paid off as Summers bounced back better than ever.
Summers, who won the 106 pound weight class, said his father played a big role in his success. Summers said “We started off practice like normal, and at home on the weekends my dad would push me to run five miles a day.”
In the individual state championship, Summers competed in an 18-man bracket, where he was able to pin his first two opponents. After the two pins, Summers ended day one topping a senior from Oglethorpe 10-6, in the semi-final match to secure his spot in the finals. In day two of the finals, Summers faced sophomore Alex Hyman, from The Lovett School, in the championship match. Summers was able to power through and win 12-6 for the state title.
He wrote his name in the history books with the victory, being the first wrestler to win a state championship as a freshman. The last individual wrestler to win a state championship at Fannin County High School was Travis Summers, 18 years ago.
Summers had a lot of thoughts running through his head when he knew he had won, saying “All the hard work, knowing that it was all worth it.”
Summers was also thankful for all the support he got from his family, wrestling coaches and teammates saying, “I want to thank my dad for pushing me when I did not want to run, and my coaches and wrestling partners.”
Summers will be awarded two rings, one for his individual performance and one for the Rebels team performance.
Fannin Head Wrestling Coach Chuck Patterson was proud of Summers and his team saying, “Blake went through several stages of growing pains this season trying to find his pace, his style, and his confidence. I remember one specific day in practice, in December, where everything clicked for him, and I told his dad, Trent, that if he wrestles like that he was going to win it all. When he lost to the wrestler from Banks at area duals by a fraction of a second, he knew coming off the mat that he would not lose again this season, and he did not.
“I could not be more proud of how much he has grown as a wrestler and as a person this season. He understands the agony of defeat and the thrill of winning it all. That is what this sport teaches young men and women about life. When you get knocked down, you get back up again and again. That defines Blake Summers and this entire team.”
Summers already has his goals set on next season, saying, “I am trying to stay light weight, so one of my goals would be to stay in a lower weight class. Next year I will probably be around the 113 pound weight class.”
When Summers is not wrestling, he also plays soccer for the Fannin County Rebels soccer team.