Triad’s Mitchell will continue mat career at Reinhardt University

College wrestling was not the idea Awsom Mitchell had in mind when stepping onto the mat each season.

But after he qualified for his first state tournament, that changed.

Mitchell will continue his mat career at Reinhardt University, located in Waleska, Georgia.

“I am really excited honestly,” Mitchell said. “I never really thought I’d be able to go and wrestle at the next level… this opportunity is a big shock to me and I am really excited.”

Triad’s Awsom Mitchell signs to wrestle at Reinhardt University. The school held a signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon with coaches, friends and family present.

(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)

Mitchell finished his prep career with an 183-21 record and the most wins in school history.

He also was a three-time sectional champion, a two-time district champion and a two-time Division III state finalist.

Mitchell thanked those in attendance at his signing, while adding he hopes to bring a national championship back to North Lewisburg.

The Eagles, an NAIA program, are members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The wrestling team had five all-conference members this past season, according to the department’s website.

Lee Camp was named AAC freshman of the year and assistant coach Hayden Lee earning assistant coach of the year honors.

Mitchell said the reality of upgrading to college athletics started to rise when Derek Sharp took over the Triad wrestling program.

In short time, Sharp’s approach changed Mitchell’s competitive mindset.

“With an athlete and a human like that, it’s one of those that you notice from the first sight,” Sharp said. “It really hit home after our first tournament his sophomore year.

“We had a moment between me and Awsom of ‘I am going to guide you in the direction you’re wanting to go.’”

Mitchell’s  approach to matches also changed, from seeing himself as a participant to a competitor willing to do what it takes to win.

“Instead of just kind of going out there and trying to win, I went out there knowing I can win and will win,” he said. “I alsotook practice more seriously.

“Coach Sharp’s mentality and way of coaching are great.”

Mitchell began to hear from college programs following his first appearance in the state finals of his junior year. Reinhardt, along with various NCAA Division II and III programs, contacted him.

Aproximately eight-to-nine colleges reached out to Mitchell. Most of them were located in the Midwest. such as Findlay and Lake Erie College.

Lee, a Marysville graduate and a former high school teammate of Sharp, proved to be a vital connection when he took a visit to campus.

Lee was a 2014 D-I state champion for Marysville and won a 2018 NAIA national title at the University of the Cumberlands.

“We hit it off great and we took a visit and everything,” Mitchell said.

“I wrestled with Lee his senior year and my freshman year,” Sharp said. “He was my inspiration as a younger wrestler, which I think made me into the coach that I am.

“It will be great for Awsom to go from a program that was truly started through the fundamentals from coach Lee.”

Mitchell first made note of how nice the weather is in Georgia.

“I hate the cold so that was definitely a big factor and the campus is beautiful,” he said. “The wrestling team has great dudes… I just loved it down there.”

Sharp said he helped Mitchell sift through the recruiting process.

“To see the potential and the opportunities that are out there, I think that allowed him to calm the nerves down and view it for what it truly is and the opportunities that it can provide,” Sharp said.

While on his visit to Reinhardt, Mitchell’s imagination took over as he visualized himself going to class and practice.

“It was an instant click,” he said. “I always saw myself there when I was there.”

Mitchell, who will study sports medicine, is going into college athletics with high goals and seeks to hit the ground running.

“I want to go out there and make a name for myself just like I did here,” he said. “I want to show the world what Triad wrestlers can do and what I can do.

“Obviously, college wrestling is different than high school… they are in college for a reason and they know what they are doing.”

“Ultimately, as a wrestler, I see nothing short of a national title at the end of his four years,” Sharp said. “But when everything is said and done, coming out a better human being to eventually give back to the younger generation to follow in his footsteps.”

Mitchell received a $26,000 athletic scholarship for a school that costs $50,000 per year.

Looking back on his Triad athletic career, Mitchell said his journey as a wrestler shaped him into the person he is today.

Making the big leap of barely qualifying for a state tournament to being a two-time state finalist was the biggest boost in confidence.

“I can’t say I did it all myself honestly,” Mitchell said. “Sharp and my teammates were there.”

Mitchell thanked his aunt and uncle, Sharp, Jake Paijk, Zach Lowe, Jordan Simmons and Kyle Walborn for helping him get to this point in his life.