By SCOTT CARLSON
North Platte Post
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A grappling program that is making a return to greatness saw one of its athletes named Athlete of the Week.
North Platte High School 152-pounder Ryan Smith-Fox was named Nebraska Athlete of the Week (Jan. 16-22) by SBLive after receiving over 16,000 votes. Smith-Fox, a Senior, was nominated for the honor following a dominating performance at a tournament in Lexington, where he pinned his first three opponents.
SBLive said Smith-Fox has only had three opponents take him into a full six-minute match, of those, only one was able to keep the scoring margin to less than a major decision.
Smith-Fox, who made an impressive Senior debut with the Bulldogs football team, plans to wrestle at Southeast Community College after graduating from NPHS. Wrestling is one of 14 new sports added to the offerings at Southeast.
Smith-Fox is the number one ranked wrestler in Nebraska at 152 pounds. The Bulldogs were ranked fourth in the latest Huskerland wrestling rankings.
Smith-Fox is having a stellar Senior season, with a 44-0 record, with 36 wins coming by pin. The current NPHS record for pins is held by Gavyn Brauer, with 44 in a season.