On Jan. 27, 2024, senior wrestler Andrew Myers broke the school record for most career falls. Myers tacked on his 79th career fall, which was enough to beat the previous 39-year standing record set by Scott Holman in 1985.
Voted OSU Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week by Columbus Dispatch readers, and named Most Outstanding Wrestler at multiple tournaments, Myers has had a remarkable senior season. Records and titles aside, Myers attributes most of his drive and commitment to his dad.
“He has a very good approach to sports with me,” Myers said. “He shares the passion of wrestling and [is] just a very good support.”
Just as many parents to young, energetic kids do, Myers’s father signed him up for all of the recreational league sports. After trying baseball, soccer, and football, he finally landed on wrestling.
“I just had a lot of fun with it, and I was pretty good at it, so those two things kind of pair well together–enjoying it and having success,” Myers said.
Myers gained his passion for wrestling at a young age, eager to learn the fundamentals and compete.
Wrestling is a grueling sport, both physically and mentally. Practicing six times a week for school, along with lifting and club practice every Sunday, Myers rarely has a day off from November to March. Even in the off-season, he continues to push himself to improve. Myers wrestles for Randy’s Attack Systems and has occasional open mat practices for school. Given his relentless drive, it’s no surprise that Myers’ favorite part of wrestling is the practice.
“You can learn, and you can keep learning forever, it’s infinite,” Myers said.
One of Myers’s most memorable matches comes from his sophomore year, as he was on his way to becoming a state placer.
“It was a very back-and-forth match, a lot of stops with bloody noses and stuff,” Myers said. “We kept having to stop wrestling, and I would have to keep thinking about it rather than just keep on wrestling. I ended up winning, riding him out in the end for the last whole period, and [I] won the match. It was a good feeling.”
With less than a month until states and heading into the final stretch of his senior season, Myers’s high school wrestling career is coming to a close. His focus now is going after a goal he set as a freshman: becoming a state champion. Going 33-1, Myers is extremely pleased with his record. He will be attending The Ohio State University, and although he is not sure if wrestling will be in his future, his high school career at Upper Arlington will be historical and is sure to earn him a spot on the walls of the athletic wing.
