Wrestler takes eighth in NCAA

While many American boys dream of becoming professional athletes, Gray Maynard had a singular goal of his own: to become an NCAA wrestling champion.

The former Durango and Bonanza High School student, now a sophomore at Michigan State, is quickly closing in on his dream. Maynard recently earned all-American honors by placing eighth in the country, at 157 pounds, at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament in Iowa City.

Maynard, who finished fourth in the Big 10 Tournament, excelled in the postseason despite undergoing his second knee surgery less than a month before.

"At the start of the year, we expected I would place in the top two (in the country) so it was kind of disappointing, but I had a scope on my knee three and a half weeks before the Big 10 (Tournament)," Maynard said. "I wasn't practicing and I couldn't jog, so it put a damper on the whole year. Before that, I expected to do a lot better. I was just trying to get by after that."

Maynard, who tore a ligament and some cartilage in his right knee in January, returned to the mat for the first time at the Big 10 Tournament.

"He had some serious adversity with his knee and he was able to overcome it and finish strong," Michigan State coach Tom Minkel said. "Any time you have to overcome adversity, in addition to the stress of placing in the national championships, it's an extra load. We were concerned if he'd be ready to go at the Big 10 Tournament."

The gritty Maynard came from behind to win his first two matches at the Big 10 event and improved as the tourney went on.

"It was nerve-wracking for him. He hadn't had much time to test his knee," Minkel said. "The kid's very competitive and very determined. He's very focused. He's known ever since he was a little kid his goal was to be an NCAA champion. He has always known that's what he wants to do and every day he's driven to that goal."

Maynard, who went 27-11 last year and 24-4 this season, said his father, a two-time high school state champion and former wrestler at Arizona State, sparked his passion for the sport.

"It's just always been my dream (to be an NCAA champ)," Maynard said. "I probably started wrestling when I was three or four and that (goal) probably came when I was around nine or 10.

"When I grew up, all I cared about was wrestling and I wanted to get really good at it and have school paid for and everything."

Maynard, who has also had surgery on his left knee, said a key to winning it all will be staying healthy.

"My chances are good, just as long as I can keep my knees good and my shoulders and everything else," he said. "It's a long year and I've just got to keep healthy. If you can do that, you're set."

Minkel said a national title is within Gray's grasp.

"We work every day with that in mind," he said. "I think he knows now that a national championship is within his capabilities and we expect him to accomplish those goals."

Maynard, who recently competed in the U.S. Freestyle Open national tournament in Las Vegas, attended Bonanza as a freshman and went to Durango as a sophomore, when he won the individual state title. Maynard, whose family still lives in Las Vegas, was looking forward to coming home.

"It's cool because I can finally get back to some nice weather. It's snowed the past three days here (in Michigan). It's one of those things I can't take, but I do it all for the sport," he said. "It will be great to get back. My parents will be there and my family and my aunts and uncles and I'll get to talk to all kinds of people."

Maynard moved to Ohio for his final two years of high school.

"My aunt and uncle were there, and it's a state where wrestling's really tough," he said. "It's huge out there."

Maynard's move paid off nicely on the mat as he went undefeated his junior and senior years at St. Edward's High and finished his prep career with a 135-16 record.

In his senior year, Maynard won the high school national championship and led his team to the top ranking in the country.

"When you come into the Big 10 and the national level of college wrestling, it's very, very tough," Minkel said. "He's had to get stronger and he'll still have to make some improvements, but this is still a major step to his goal (of winning an NCAA title).

"He's way more mature this year. Gray is kind of a mild-mannered young man on the surface, but when he steps on the mat, it's an entirely different thing. He's very intense and very determined."

While Maynard will stay focused on capturing an NCAA crown the next two years, he plans to stay around wrestling as long as he can.

"I'm just going to keep training, try to coach and I want to try out for the Olympic team," he said. "I'm going to try to make the Olympic team (in 2004)."