Strand Sets National Record
ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN MARCH 1994 COLLEGE PARK STANDOUT CASEY STRAND CAPPED HIS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING CAREER WITH HIS 2ND STATE TITLE. THIS WAS CASEY’S 3RD TRIP TO THE STATE FINALS, WHERE HE HAD FINISHED 2ND HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR.
STRAND’S UNPRECEDENTED 3RD TRIP TO THE FINALS AND 2ND TITLE WERE NOT THE BIGGEST TALK AT THE TIME. TWO WEEKS PRIOR IN THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS STRAND HAD ACCOMPLISHED AN EVEN MORE AMAZING FEAT. WITH A 2NDROUND TECH FALL OVER MIKE LAWSON OF CLAYTON VALLEY STRAND BROKE THE NATIONAL RECORD FOR WINS IN A HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING CAREER. THIS WAS STRAND’S 218TH CAREER WIN AND HE HAD TWO WEEKS TO GO IN HIS SENIOR SEASON.
STRAND CONTINUED HIS WINNING STREAK THROUGH NCS AND THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. HIS 19-8 WIN IN THE STATE FINALS OVER MIKE FRENCH OF GRANITE BAY PUT STRAND’S FINAL CAREER MATCH WIN COUNT AT 228, SHATTERING THE PREVIOUS RECORD. CASEY WENT ON TO WRESTLE AT ARIZONA STATE WHERE HE WAS A 2X NCAA DIVISION I ALL AMERICAN.
STRAND’S WIN RECORD REMAINED UNBROKEN FOR THREE YEARS.
