The 2020-2021 Catoosa-walker County Wrestling Dream Team

Catoosa County Wrestler of the Year

ZACH BROWN

Zach Brown began his wrestling career at Heritage High School by going 25-19 as a freshman and qualifying for state at 195 pounds.

However, it would be his only trip to state in his first three years as a prep wrestler as the talented grappler stopped wrestling following his rookie season.

“I grew up wrestling ever since I was six,” Brown explained. “But my freshman year, I really lost the love for it, so I quit. But I knew my senior year was probably the last time I’ve ever going to get to do it, so I decided to come back and try to do my best.” And that’s exactly what he did. Returning to the Generals’ lineup, Brown went 24-6 this past season and captured an Area 7-AAAA title at 220 pounds before going on to finish second at the state tournament.

For his efforts, Brown has been named the Catoosa County Wrestler of the Year for the 2020-2021 season.

After a first-round bye at state, he followed up with three consecutive pins, including a memorable one against Flowery Branch’s Clay Anderson after Anderson had beaten Brown with a pin at the state duals a few weeks earlier.

Brown would face off with a familiar foe in the finals, Area 7 rival Jose Leon from

Southeast Whitfield, whom Brown beat 5-2 for the area crown. The championship match would come down to the closing seconds when, in a stroke of very bad luck, the Heritage senior injured his knee and lost a heartbreaking 3-1 decision.

“I just hate that it ended the way it did,” Brown explained.

Brown said he would remember his return to the mats, especially his first match back.

“It was against a guy from Dade County,” he said. “He and I kind of grew up wrestling each other. I was gassed the entire time, but it was nice seeing a familiar face my first week back.”

Brown is currently rehabbing his knee and getting ready to head off to college. He signed to play football at Shorter University in Rome and said that he will be taking a medical redshirt year with plans to come back stronger than ever in 2022. Brown was the Catoosa County Defensive Football Player of the Year and earned All-state honors in the sport last fall.

Still, he said his time at Heritage would be cherished and he hopes he left a legacy at the school.

“Just like everything around here, it’s a big family,” he said. “They’ll always love you, but stuff changes and you have to move on. But I’ll miss being here (at Heritage). It’s a great place.

“Plus, I get to be on the (All-state) wall, so I’ll be at least remembered for that.”