Local wrestler makes history with 58-0 record

Pierce Mederios recently made history by going undefeated throughout his entire junior high wrestling career.

Mederios is not the only wrestler to go undefeated in junior high school. A.J. Hutchinson went undefeated his seventh- and eighth-grade seasons, but back then sixth-grade students did not compete on the junior high team.

Mederios has the distinction of being the first wrestler to go undefeated since sixth-grade students have been allowed to compete for the junior high team.

The teen ended his junior high career in December with a 58-0 record and three district championships.

In sixth grade Mederios wrestled in the 79-pound weight class and went 24-0. Along the way he won the Robert Stuart Invitational and was voted the tournament's "outstanding wrestler" award, which is voted on by the head coaches of each team.

Later that year, he went on to be Mountain Home's first sixth-grade district champion.

In his seventh-grade year, Mederios moved up to the 82 pound weight class. He repeated as the Robert Stuart Invitational Champion and District Champion. Mederios ended his 7th grade season with a record of 16 -- 0.

Mederios' eighth-grade season was possibly his most impressive, according to school officials. He compiled an 18--0 record and led the team with 14 pins. He also had two technical falls (winning by 15 points or more), and two major decisions while only surrendering a total of four points the entire season. Mederios was once again received the "outstanding wrestler" award at the Robert Stuart Invitational when he defeated the previous year's award winner in the championship match.

Mederios completed his eighth-grade campaign by winning his third district championship in as many years.

His accomplishments go beyond the wrestling mat. He has won the "Iron-Man" award during all three of his junior high seasons. The award is given to all team members by the coaches for their dedication to being present for all practices and matches and keeping up their grades. At school he has been "Athlete of the Month" two times and "Student of the Month" two times.

He also received the "Principal's Award" and the "Elk's Student of the Year" award, in part because of his 4.0 grade point average.