DEEP RUN — Jake Villabona’s prep wrestling career was shorter than most. But what he accomplished in three short seasons was enough to land him the opportunity to wrestle for at least four more.
The standout South Lenoir grappler who didn’t take up the sport until his sophomore year will wrestle at Division II Limestone College next season.
For most a shot at an athletic scholarship takes a lifetime of work to achieve. But for Villabona, his natural gift for pinning opponents and muscling his way to win after win needed only a few short years.
“I started wrestling when I was in the 10th grade; never wrestled before in my life — three years, that’s it,” he said. “Now I’m going to college to continue that.”
Villabona, who went 63-37 with 46 pins during his three-year career at South Lenoir, is the school’s second wrestler to earn a spot on a college roster, Blue Devils coach Carlos Dodd said.
While Villabona — who thought his ticket to college might have been baseball, he said — credits Dodd with his success, Dodd reflects it right back to his 126-pounder.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, considering just three years ago he didn’t know anything about wrestling. But he’s always had a natural talent for it. As long as he works hard I think there’s not much that he’s not going to accomplish,” Dodd said. “It’s nice to have an athlete say that, but more of the credit has to go to the athlete.
“I can only show them what to do. It’s up to the athlete to do it.”
The wrestling program at South Lenoir is relatively young. It got its start with the 2005-06 school year, and reached the state dual-team playoffs for the first time in 2009. That was also the first year the team had a winning season.
Villabona was in middle school then and the thought of wrestling hadn’t even crossed his mind. Dodd approached Villabona as a sophomore about the possibility or joining the squad and he obliged.
Three wrestling seasons and more than 60 victories later Villabona, who plans on majoring in strength and conditioning, he said, now has his eyes set on a national championship and status as an All-American.
“My talent here just grew and grew and grew to where I am pretty good,” he said. “Anything’s possible in wrestling.
“I feel like I’m ready. With (Dodd’s) teaching, I can do anything. He taught me everything I know.”
At South Lenoir Villabona learned how to be a part of a program and the dedication it takes to be successful, and that’s what appealed to him the most with Limestone.
“They’re serious about their program, and that’s what I like,” he said. “I didn’t just pick to go there. They wanted me there. They recruited me there.”
“I think what’s really worked out the most for (Villabona) is the fact that he was willing to learn and that he doesn’t like to lose,” added Dodd. “When you do that, that’s what it takes to win.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.