Georgio Poullas Canfield | wrestling

Canfield wrestler Georgio Poullas approached each match — each practice — with this mindset.

“You just have to believe in yourself,” he said. “If you believe in yourself and know that you can do something and work hard at it every day — and that’s what you dream about doing every day – then you can achieve your goals.”

Poullas’ approach helped him capture the Division II state title at 152 pounds,

Poullas, The Vindicator’s wrestler of the year, won the crown on March 5 by beating Toledo Central Catholic’s Richard Jackson at the Jerome Schottenstien Center in Columbus. The accomplishment came a year after the junior moved up from the 126-pound weight class by “getting in the weight room, lifting and getting a lot stronger.”

“It’s been pretty great,” Poullas said. “All my friends and family were there to support me — it’s really an awesome feeling.”

Not only did Poullas snag his title, but the Cardinals finished second overall at the state tournament.

“Our team is truly something special — we’re brothers,” Poullas said. “To know that all your hard work and all your teammates’ hard work — pushing each other and motivating each other — paid off, it’s awesome.”

Next for Poullas — who ideally wants to wrestle at Ohio State in a couple years — is to simply continue to believe in himself.

“I just have to keep lifting and working harder towards my goal,” he said. “Winning the state championship this year only motivates me more and more to work harder — not only in the gym, but even harder on the mat. Hopefully that will help me achieve my goal next year of being a two-time state champ.”

— Steve Wilaj