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KYLER DEETER TAKES 8TH AT JR. HIGH STATE...
March 23, 2008 – ATHENS
Covington seventh grader Kyler Deeter made the trip to Ohio University for the Jr. High State Championships looking to gain valuable experience and proudly represent his school.
After two days of wrestling, Deeter found himself on the podium with an eight place medal.
"This was great experience for him," said Kyler's dad, Kelly. "He wrestled really well and we're proud of him."
Deeter's accomplishment was special because it came while representing those who helped get him there (to state).
"Kyler wanted to make sure he represented the Covington wrestling program and Mike DeHart," Kelly explained. "He wore his Covington singlet for some of his matches and his DeHart singlet for the others. It was his way of representing the people who help him."
Deeter wore his Covington singlet during Saturday matches and in his final match for seventh and eighth.
"Kyler's a Buccaneer through and through," continued Kelly, who owns his own state medals from his days as a track athlete at Covington. "He takes pride in wearing that (Covington) uniform."
For his early matches on Sunday, Deeter wore his DeHart singlet.
"Mike DeHart has meant so much to Kyler," said Kelly. "He (Kyler) wouldn't even be here(at state) without Mike. We owe that man a debt of gratitude for all he has done for us. That (wearing the DeHart singlet) was just something Kyler wanted to do for Mike, even though he couldn't be here."
Kyler echoed his dad's comments in regards to the coaching he has received and how much they mean to him.
"All of my coaches have helped me a lot," Kyler said. "Coach Sowers (in youth), my junior high coaches and Mike DeHart. They taught me so much about wrestling - things like how to wrestle smart, use technique and not muscle."
The coaching came in handy as Deeter won four of his first five matches in the tournament to secure a place on the podium - the only seventh grader in his weight class to do so.
"It (placing as a seventh grader) feels good, but it really hasn't sunk in yet," Kyler said of his accomplishment. "I guess I did OK."
Kyler's dad has a better understanding of what Kyler accomplished considering he was mat-side and witnessed the level of competition his son faced.
"He wrestled some studs and did pretty well," Kelly said. "This is a big accomplishment because all the other kids who placed were eighth graders. That says a lot about how well he wrestled."
With those who placed above him heading off to the high school level, Kyler is looking for bigger and better things next year.
"I want to place even higher (next year)," Kyler said as far as his future plans. "I learned a lot of things I can do to get better. I'm going to practice harder, learn more moves and get a lot of mat time. I'm going to spend a lot of time at DeHart and in open gyms."
After a well deserved break, of course.
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