Garaway’s King proved to be royalty in more ways than one

For Garaway senior Dillon King, the path to the Division III state wrestling tournament was a long and winding road.

Having burst onto the wrestling scene as a promising youth, King set himself up for a terrific career, which would coincide with what turned into a fantastic football career.

Only the wrestling plans didn’t work out exactly like he and the coaching staff had hoped.

King’s varsity career began hopeful enough with a season that saw him claw his way to a district alternate. That would have seemed to set the table for the success story to come on the mats, but his sophomore season he suffered a debilitating knee injury that sidelined him.

His junior campaign he returned, only to battle through both knee and elbow injuries from football that nearly saw him skip his junior wrestling season.

Garaway head wrestling coach Greg Miller said it wasn’t until January King finally was able to wrestle, and with a short slate of activity to get ready for sectionals, he once again missed out on any possible state-qualifying effort.

That led him to his senior season, where King put aside all the past historical struggles. King posted a 33-7 record that saw him battle through sectionals and grab the fourth and final spot to state in the Coshocton Div. III district meet at 190 pounds.

All the work, dedication and determination had paid off for a wrestler who went through many trials and tribulations to finally reach the thrill of making it to state.

King would go on to post a 1-2 record at state, getting ousted in sudden victory overtime. However, in this case, while King would have loved to see a different result, sometimes the journey is the rewarding part of the effort.

“Dillon has had every right to become discouraged, but because of his character, he has never done that,” Miller said. “He’s been through so much, but he never gave up. He never quit striving and competing, and he is one of those kids who shines whether it’s on the field, the mats or in life. He’s just a great young man.”

Following his qualifying match to go to state at the district meet, King said the joy of reaching state was something he’s always wanted, but he added he has had to remain focused on fundamentals as he battled his way through adversity.

“This whole season has been such a blessing,” King said. “I’ve got everybody working hard around me and pushing me, and all these years of hard work are coming to an end, and I definitely wanted that end to come at the state tournament.”

The district wrestle-in-to-state match in the consolation bracket is always the fiercest, most intense match of the year because it determines whether or not a wrestler reaches the goal of making it to state.

For so many teens, that match ends the dream, but this year for King, it was a moment of jubilation and relief.

“That blood match is where it’s at,” King said. “I’m not going to lie — the feeling after coming off the mat in that match a winner is pure bliss. It’s just an amazing feeling. All that hard work, that is the moment where it all paid off.”

Having come so close to state, King has felt the sting of that reality but now rejoiced in overcoming all to reach the pinnacle of high school wrestling for most athletes.

He also got to be a part of helping the Pirates wrestling program go from an afterthought to one that has now become a competitive group, after the Pirates placed second both this year and last year at districts, then put together a season this year that saw them send eight wrestlers to state and finish a program-best ninth as a team.

“When I got here, there was almost nothing; it was Kyle Miller and nobody else,” King said. “It feels like we’ve gone from zero to 100 the past couple of years, and it’s because of this incredible coaching staff and these dedicated wrestlers coming behind me. It’s been an amazing story to watch it play out, but at the same time, it’s what we expect now because of all the work everyone has put in.”

Having wrestled since kindergarten, King can now rejoice in knowing his berth to state was accomplished and his character and leadership helped guide this program to new heights.