Recordpub.com - Athlete of the Week: Aurora's Ty Mitch

AURORA — Already a two-time state champion, senior Ty Mitch is likely the best wrestler to ever suit up for an already tradition-rich Aurora program.

And if things go as expected next month, Mitch will have a chance to build an incredibly tall mountain for any future Greenman to climb.

Mitch, the third-ranked 119-pound competitor in the nation according to Wrestling USA Magazine, enters this year’s tournament season as the odds-on favorite to capture his third consecutive state title.

The senior has been a success at every level of competition, already earning championships at both 103 (2008) and 112 pounds (2009).

“The plan here is to win (the state championship),” said Aurora head coach Dick Bliss. “We’re not worried about what number championship this is for Ty, we’re focused on this season and winning this championship. That’s the goal.”

Mitch is rolling into this year’s postseason as high as ever after becoming only the third four-time Chagrin Valley Conference champion at last weekend’s meet.

The secret to Mitch’s success?

If it wasn’t already obvious to anyone who has followed his career, it is not hard to figure out.

With a razor-thin talent difference between the nation’s best, Mitch has had to look inside to push himself to the top of the heap.

“I just hate losing, and I hate when people have an advantage over me,” said Mitch. “I know that the minimum doesn’t cut it (when competing for state titles), so I’m trying to get an edge by doing those extra practices and doing work outside of the high school mats.”

A member of the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame, Bliss said that it’s Mitch’s mental approach to the game that has made him such a special competitor.

“I’ve been fortunate to coach a number of good kids, but never anyone at the level Ty is at,” said Bliss. “He’s the kind of wrestler who goes stir crazy when he’s not doing anything. I’m amazed at how focused he is at all times and just how much work he does.”

The list of accomplishments to Mitch’s credit is long indeed. Aside from his success at state, the four-time All-Ohio senior has nearly 700 takedowns, over 70 pins and ranks second all-time in wins at Aurora.

Aside from the high school season, Mitch took gold at national competitions like the Disney Scholastic Duals and the USA Cadet and Junior Freestyle & Greco-Roman Championships.

“Ty knows that there are few people in the state who can give him a match, so he’s gone out and competed with the top 10 kids nationally,” said Bliss. “It seems that every time Ty goes out there, he sets some sort of crazy record,” said Bliss. “He’s so strong at takedowns that he probably holds the record in it over everyone on the planet.”

Mitch recently signed to join coach Kevin Dresser and the 19th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. The senior is a part of one of the best classes in the country, including fellow nationally-ranked light weight competitor Devin Carter.

Carter, a 125-pound competitor out of Virginia is a big reason Mitch, who passed on offers from Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin, said he felt comfortable with joining the rising program.

“Virginia Tech was the first schoosl who recruited me and when I took a visit there, I loved it,” said Mitch. “They signed another nationally-ranked competitor (Carter), which was great. To have a competitor like that as a training partner and roommate will be great.”

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Contact Colin Harris at charris@recordpub.com

or 330-298-1123