Zalen McCraw is ready for the next step in his wrestling journey.
The recent Polk County graduate isn’t done competing on the mat. McCraw is taking his talents to West Virginia Tech, where he plans to join the Golden Bears program this fall.
McCraw sees the move to collegiate wrestling as the next natural move in his development in the sport.
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“I’ve been wrestling for six years and it’s always been like OK, middle school is over, now time to get ready to wrestle in high school,” he said. “Now high school is over and it’s time to get ready to wrestle in college.
“I am very excited to continue wrestling in college.”
McCraw finished his Polk County career as the school’s all-time leader in wins, recording 177 victories in his four seasons. That included a 53-1 campaign in his senior year that he capped with a dramatic state 3A championship, scoring a pin of Lincolnton’s Jay Mills in the final seconds of the match.
McCraw’s work ethic, tenacity and success sparked interest among a few college programs. West Virginia Tech, based in Beckley, W.Va. and a member of the NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference, ultimately most interested McCraw.
“They have what I want to study (electrical engineering),” McCraw said. “My mindset was that I wanted to go to college, but if I can wrestle while I’m there, I might as well do it.”
The last Polk County wrestler to compete at the college level, Bryson McCraw, also competed in the AAC at Montreat College. His final college victory came in February in a match at West Virginia Tech.
Now Zalen McCraw is ready to get started with his own college career.
“Being able to call myself a college athlete is big, especially with wrestling,” he said. “Wrestling is not a very popular sport, and I’m just beyond blessed to continue wrestling at the next level.
“I just want to again thank God for the abilities He’s blessing me with. I can’t thank Him enough. I also want to thank my family, coaches and just everybody who’s helped me along the way to get to where I am at.”
