A heavy weight is lifted: Walker tops rival Sharp

The Alliance senior finally broke free against his 275-pound nemesis.
BY ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BELOIT -- Alliance High heavyweight Matt Walker knew just what he wanted for his 18th birthday and didn't involve keys to a new car or a new Xbox.
In his mind, the perfect gift was to accomplish something that has eluded him all season -- a victory over West Branch's Nathan Sharp.
After Saturday night, Walker can now have his cake and eat it, too.
Walker finally broke free against his rival, scoring a 3-2 win to win the Division II 275-pound sectional championship at West Branch High.
"I knew it would be a good match, because all our matches have been," said Walker, who is 1-3 this season against his chief rival whom he considers a friend. "I finally got one against him, so now I'll have some confidence when we meet at districts and state knowing that I beat the best, because right now, he's the best.
"We've been friends forever, but the last three weeks we really haven't spoken because things are getting down to the wire. But I hope after the season, we can go back to being friends. But right now, we're in the middle of this rivalry."
Past meetings
The first time they met this season, Sharp pulled out a 3-2 win in the final of the Painesville tournament. Match No. 2 came a few weeks later and featured an illegal slam by Walker, who was leading 10-1 at the time. Sharp was awarded the win by disqualification.
The third time they met -- in the EOWL finals -- the duo threw each other into the ringside scorers table. Neither wrestler was hurt and the match continued. Sharp claimed a 4-2 victory.
State wrestling expert Brian Brakeman has projected Sharp defending his state title and has Walker finishing third.
After Sharp and Walker wrestled at the Painesville tournament early in the season, they sat in the stands and split a candy bar. But ever since the illegal slam incident, these two standouts haven't exactly been lunch buddies.
"It's become more personal since the second meeting," said Sharp (34-1). "I had to stay in the hospital after that match and they weren't kind about it. Whether it was on purpose or not, I can't blame him for being overzealous in that situation.
"I just feel like I don't get respect because I don't beat people bad enough; this is my first loss since last January."
Talking point
The rivalry between the two wrestlers has been a popular talking point among fans. It seems that much is being made of the perceived grudge between them. Sharp and Walker have their own thoughts on the matter.
"I'm not sure how intense it is outside the rivalry, but it's really intense inside of it," said Sharp. "Until today, I didn't want to wrestle him because he's talented. But now I'll be rooting for him so I can avenge this loss. Now, I'm really adamant about beating Matt Walker.
"I don't like having enemies or anything, so maybe after the season we can go back to being buddies. But that's up to him."
Walker offered his point of view.
"I think in that second match emotions were just running high," he said. "I didn't do anything on purpose. I've just been trying to think of other ways to beat him, so [hopefully] we don't have any more situations like that.
"I was just better today. But we'll meet again and it will be a good match. When everything is over, I want to stay friends."