Freshman Sam Ritchie has been wrestling his whole life and is the youngest of a long line of wrestlers, including his grandpa, uncle, brother and his father Harold Ritchie, who is also his coach. Growing up with wrestling and having wrestlers in the family helped Sam to improve his talent. Sam started off his first high school season on the Varsity team 3-2 as of press time. His next meet is a tournament in Cape Girardeau on Friday and Saturday.

“My dad and brother help me out every chance they get to make me become better,” Sam said. ”They show me things I’m doing wrong and show me the right way to do the move.”

Growing up and living with great wrestlers became a huge part of his life and a leading role in why Sam is trying to become a great wrestler himself. Harold believes that growing up and living with wrestlers makes Sam strive to become a better wrestler every day.

“It’s made him want to be a wrestler,” Harold said. “He’s been around it his whole life, always tries to get involved, and he’s had a lot of opportunities that a lot of kids don’t.”