Former New Lex wrestling star enters the octagon

NEW LEXINGTON, Ohio – He’s run out of time as a New Lexington athlete, but the wrestling room is still a second home for 19-year-old Matt Adams.

“You can do anything in this room, like reach your goals,” Adams said.

When Adams first walked into the room as a student, New Lex assistant wrestling coach Matt Reed couldn’t look away.

“I knew right away like, man, there’s a ton of potential right here,” Reed said.

Adams pinned his way to a heavyweight wrestling title as a senior. But he was far from finished.

Adams followed that up with the first state championship in Panther history and a national championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“People, they just doubt me, and when people doubt me… I just want to prove them wrong,” Adams said.

Not bad for a guy who started the sport just two years ago.

“People don’t achieve what he’s achieved without being driven,” Reed said.

But when colleges started calling, the champ wasn’t ready. Adams failed to pass the Ohio Graduation Tests, putting his wrestling career on hold.

“I’m a good athlete, but I didn’t have the brains in school,” Adams admitted. “My biggest goal in life is never let my mom down and she wants me to go to college, so I’m going to do that to make her happy, make myself happy.”

Adams is now fighting to rebuild his name. The accomplished wrestler is stepping off the mat and into the octagon, as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter.

“I just want to do it to show people that I can do it and have the heart to,” Adams said.

Though he had never fought on this stage before, Adams proved he’s for real Wednesday night. He defeated Dustin Freet by first round technical knockout (TKO) at Caged Madness 46 in Akron. The fight was stopped in just 30 seconds.

Now, Adams is playing the waiting game. He will receive his second batch of Ohio Graduation Tests results on Dec. 1. If Adams passes the exams, he plans to commit to a junior college and continue his wrestling career.

But not without leaving a gigantic mark on the MMA scene. And perhaps an open door for the future.