FAIRBURY – If Andy Hoselton thought it was tough to become an undefeated state champion wrestler, then at least he should have advance notice about what he'll face during the next decade.

"In 10 years, I hope to walk into a room and be called Dr. Andrew Hoselton," the 160-pound Prairie Central senior said.

His ambitions are realistic, he believes, based on his past path.

"I think Dan Gable (former Olympic gold medalist) was correct when he said, 'Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy,' " Hoselton said.

Whether in sports or athletics, the Chenoa native pushes himself beyond what at first glance is attainable.

His mother, Mari Lynn Hoselton, said a telling story took place after he received his ACT score.

"Andy set a goal of 32, which is his football number," Mari Lynn Hoselton said. "The first time he took the ACT he got a 30."

Not satisfied, he took classes and studied to improve.

"Next time he took it is when he got the 33," Mari Lynn Hoselton said.

His perfect 4.0 grade-point average matches his perfect 46-0 wrestling record as a senior, a mark that earned him News-Gazette Wrestler of the Year accolades.

In both cases, his effort was exemplary. Academically, he has taken AP and Dual Credit classes. When he graduates from high school, he'll have 12 hours of college credit.

Three days after winning the Class 1A state crown at 160, Hoselton bumped up to 171 pounds in the team sectional to face a tougher opponent. He won 13-0.

Though he took up wrestling, he said, "at the ripe old age of 4," at the urging of his uncle, Doug, Andy Hoselton had moderate success before high school.

His first year in the sport, going against individuals 2 and 3 years older, was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

"I ended up losing every match," he said.

He progressed to the level of competitive and then beyond.

"There were many times I made it to the IKWF state tournament but came home empty-handed," he said. "My eighth-grade year, I placed sixth (at 108 pounds)."

At Prairie Central, he came under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Joe Cliffe, whom he said "is not only a great coach but a great guy. His passion for wrestling is second to none."

As a junior and senior, Hoselton reached state championship matches. The difference in results his last two years, compared to his first two, can be traced to one decision.

"Cutting all the weight my first two years affected my overall strength," he said. "The past two seasons, I stayed at my natural weight, allowing me to build muscle strength, even during the season."

He played football as a guard and linebacker at 165 pounds. He stayed within 5 pounds of that weight for the wrestling season. The allure of wrestling, he said, stems from the format of matching up individuals similar in size.

"It doesn't require me to be extremely fast or extremely strong," said Hoselton, who immersed himself in the fundamentals and made that his source of strength.

"Throughout my career, I was taught that technique always beats strength, so I used my technique when my opponent was stronger than I was."

For his prep career, he posted a school-record 147 wins. This season, he accumulated a team-high 131 takedowns.

"Andy always said 'first takedown wins,' " Mari Lynn Hoselton said. "I am always relieved when he scores the first takedown. I call those 'Mom's points' because I can relax a little."

Cliffe said it would be difficult to find someone more mature for his age and as considerate of others as Hoselton.

"There is not a kid in this school that has better character," Cliffe said. "He is an outstanding student and a quality citizen."

In the match the Hawks were seeking Cliffe's 500th career win in January, one of the spectators was former Prairie Central Principal Dan Schmitt.

"Andy went out of his way to talk to him and thank him for coming," Cliffe said.

Mari Lynn Hoselton is aware others don't always hold the same opinion of a child as the parents. She was particularly touched by a comment a teacher wrote in a letter of recommendation for Andy.

"In her letter she says, 'As a mother of a young son, I can only hope that my own child will have the qualities which Andrew possesses," Mari Lynn Hoselton said. "That was quite a compliment to us, his parents."

That's not to say Andy Hoselton is without faults.

"Andy is never in a hurry, which drives me crazy," Mari Lynn Hoselton said. "He goes at 'Andy pace' and will get there when he gets there. Sometimes he will put off writing papers until the last minute. He tells me he does better work under pressure."

There was not a more stressful time in wrestling than in the team-dual state quarterfinal match. Hoselton's match was the final one. Prairie Central trailed by five points and only a pin would guarantee the Hawks of moving into the trophy round.

Hoselton registered the pin – one of 20 he posted this season – in 3 minutes, 15 seconds, and Prairie Central edged Vandalia 32-31.

Now that the season has ended, Hoselton is playing the waiting game. He has submitted applications to Brown University, Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue. He is biding time until he learns where he has been accepted.

Meantime, he has a couple activities to pursue when away from school.

"Weightlifting," he said, "and obviously eating."

Wrestlers of the Year
YEAR    WINNER
2011    Andy Hoselton, Prairie Central (above)
2010    Guy Kirby, GCMS/Fisher
2009    Andrew Brewer, Mahomet-Seymour
2008    Kyle Dooley, Monticello
2007    Kyle Dooley
2006    Billy Gallo, St. Joseph-Ogden
2005    Brian Lange, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Getting to know ... Andy Hoselton
Favorite athlete: Tom Brady
Whom I’m texting most: My girlfriend, Morgan
I need concert tickets to: Linkin Park.
Movie I have to see: “Transformers III”
Favorite TV show: “SportsCenter”
With my lottery winnings, I’m buying: a new car.
For one day, I’d like to trade places with: no one. I like where I’m at right now.
My role model: My dad, Rod
Least favorite food: Brussels sprouts
College plans: Walk on for wrestling and study pre-med at either Brown, Michigan, Northwestern or Purdue
Three people I’d like to have dinner with: Megan Fox, Abraham Lincoln and Cael Sanderson

Honorable mention
An alphabetical look at the Wrestler of the Year honorable mention list:
NAME    SCHOOL    YR.    WT.
Dacian Alvarez    Oakwood    Jr.    112
Julian Anastasia    Champaign Central    Jr.    135
Austin Armetta    Mahomet-Seymour    Jr.    160
Evan Bahler    Prairie Central    So.    130
Dan Ball    Argenta-Oreana    Sr.    140
Andy Bensyl    St. Joseph-Ogden    Jr.    189
John Brent    LeRoy    Jr.    171
Devin Bulington    LeRoy    Jr.    119
Quenton Butsch    Mahomet-Seymour    So.    119
Jacob Carter    Bismarck-Henning    Jr.    112
Dylan Donner    GCMS/Fisher    So.    112
Luke Dunn    Monticello    Jr.    145
Tyler Farney    Prairie Central    Sr.    189
Aaron Ford    Argenta-Oreana    Jr.    215
Mario Frye    Danville    Sr.    130
Ramsey Hoss    Monticello    Jr.    125
Austin Hyde    Monticello    Fr.    112
Brandon Ireland    Mahomet-Seymour    So.    112
Dylan Knisley    Monticello    Fr.    130
Henry LeCrone    Unity    Sr.    152
Kenny Lindsey    St. Joseph-Ogden    Jr.    215
Cameron Mammen    Urbana    So.    160
Zach Martin    Bismarck-Henning    Jr.    125
Felipe Martinez    Hoopeston Area    Sr.    189
Austin Matlock    LeRoy    So.    112
Chet McClure    GCMS/Fisher    So.    119
Elliott McClure    GCMS/Fisher    Sr.    152
Justin Meyers    LeRoy    Jr.    125
John Morrell    LeRoy    Jr.    135
Tyler Moxley    Mahomet-Seymour    So.    103
Dakota Patton    Bismarck-Henning    Sr.    189
Wesley Patton    Oakwood    Sr.    125
Kyle Powars    Argenta-Oreana    Jr.    125
Joey Reis    Prairie Central    Jr.    140
Brian Roberts    LeRoy    Sr.    145
Austen Schott    Centennial    So.    112
Brad Simmons    LeRoy    Jr.    215
Morgan Supergan    Bismarck-Henning    So.    Hwt.
Beau Thomas    Monticello    Sr.    160
Trent Trudeau    Argenta-Oreana    Sr.    Hwt.
Nate Volk    Champaign Central    Jr.    152
Troy Welch    Unity    Jr.    119
Archie Williams    Centennial    Jr.    189
Kodi Willis    Clinton    Sr.    152
Denzil Wilson    Prairie Central    Sr.    Hwt.
Zach Whitsel    Argenta-Oreana    Fr.    103
Tyler Woolridge    LeRoy    Jr.    130
Clay Wright    Monticello    Jr.    152

Final News-Gazette Top 10
SCHOOL (PREVIOUS)    RECORD    COMMENT
1. LeRoy (1)    21-2    Seniors won 60 matches
2. Prairie Central (2)    22-5    Seniors won 102 matches
3. Argenta-Oreana (3)    18-3    Seniors won 128 matches
4. Mahomet-Seymour (4)    19-3    Seniors won 68 matches
5. Monticello (5)    13-10    Seniors won 25 matches
6. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (6)    14-7    Seniors won 80 matches
7. Bismarck-Henning (7)    28-8     Seniors won 130 matches
8. Champaign Central (8)    13-8    Seniors won 24 matches
9. Centennial (9)    10-14    Seniors won 25 matches
10. St. Joseph-Ogden (10)    13-17    Seniors won 64 matches