LAYNE HATCHER

WHY HE WON: Wrestling is a grueling sport, both mentally and physically, but Layne Hatcher, at 6-2 and 203 pounds, has shown the dedication needed to excel. Not only is the Pulaski Academy junior a three-time state champion; he pinned all of his opponents during the championship bouts. For his most recent title, he pinned Berryville’s Robert Allen during the 1A-5A 195-pound final. Hatcher has won more than 100 matches in a row, including a 50-0 record this season with 52 pins, and a 167-4 career record with 152 pins. He led the Pulaski Academy wrestling team in pins as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and he is ranked in the top 20 nationally. “Wrestling’s not a glory sport like football, where you get to come out in front of a ton of people on Friday nights,” he said. “It’s a form of self-accomplishment. It gives you confidence, knowing that you’ve done stuff that other people would break doing.” With Hatcher’s help, the Bruins finished as state runners-up the past two years, and next year, the team will return six state champions. In addition to his wrestling career, Hatcher boasts a 3.7 grade-point average and plays both baseball and football. As the Bruins’ quarterback, he was named Most Valuable Player during the 2016-2017 state finals, earning his third state championship in football and a spot on the All-Arkansas Preps football team. “When you put all three sports together, I’m not sure anybody’s putting in more time in America than he is,” said his father, Greg Hatcher, adding that Layne attends double practices most days and wrestles at least once or twice a week year-round. Layne began wrestling at age 6 under the mentorship of Pat Smith at the Arkansas Wrestling Academy. Layne named Smith, his father and Pulaski Academy head wrestling coach Bruce Dickey as his greatest mentors in the sport. Dickey coached Layne’s father in wrestling and baseball at Alma College in Michigan. The two are “cut from the same mold,” Dickey said of the father and son, adding that he has been impressed with Layne’s tenacity, dedication and well-rounded nature. “I’ve never had a kid who works as hard as he does,” Dickey said. “He is constantly pursuing excellence in everything that he does.” Being named the 2017 All-Arkansas Preps Player of the Year in Wrestling is a great accomplishment, Hatcher said. “I’m very happy to have that honor, but there’s still a lot more to do in my mind,” he said. “I want to be the best that I can possibly be, and if that’s the best I can possibly be, I can live with that, but I want to be greater than that if I can.”

I’m very excited and happy [to receive this award]. It’s just a result of the work that’s been put in over the years — great coaching, great mentors [and] great leadership by those around me. It developed me into something better than I thought I could be.”

TONY BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY