River Hill junior Matt Shealy dealt with a myriad of struggles throughout the season, including several losses, a broken finger and a broken hand.
But when it mattered most, it was Shealy that stood atop the podium at University of Maryland's Cole Field House March 9 as he won the 3A/4A 106-pound state title with a 5-3 decision over Arundel's Nathan Gainey.
"I was always one step away, I just had to be careful and take the steps the right way. I finally did it," Shealy said. "This has been my dream since middle school, to be a state champion, and I finally achieved it. This is the best feeling I've felt for as long as I can remember."
Shealy started the match earning the first takedown, which proved to be crucial in the tight match.
Gainey would tie it after escaping in the first period then to start off the second, but Shealy earned an escape of his own to start the third period to make it a 3-2 advantage.
Late in the final period, Shealy (37-5) countered a deep shot from Gainey to earn a controversial takedown, and went on to take the title, 5-3.
"It was crazy. I knew it was going to be close," said Hawks coach Brandon Lauer. "We had two good kids going at it, so it was going to be a takedown or two to decide it."