Hatch Focused As Ever Heading Into Second Season
WARSAW – It was like Superman was donning his cape. The snap of his chin strap and a tunnel of amped supporters formed, allowing the focused super hero to head into battle and claim another victory against the dark enemy.
It’s not the narrative Warsaw junior wrestler has scripted for himself, but one that seems to be unfolding with each spotlight shined upon him. As the focus on the ultra-talented grappler becomes sharper as he dominates opponent after opponent, many of the ‘the kid is pretty good’ whispers have now just become full-blown statements of expectation.
The scene against Northern Lakes Conference power Goshen on Jan. 14 was sort of what has become of the upward arrows in Hatch’s developing career. Passing on his 138-pound feast to take on a bigger challenge at 145 pounds, only the phone booth was missing as Hatch appeared from behind his wall of teammates. And toying with whether to pin quickly or, as Hatch put it ‘get in a workout’, Hatch had no trouble recording four takedowns and a pin without breaking as much as a sweat.
“I don’t feel too much of a difference, just that the kids are a little bigger, that’s all,” Hatch said of moving up in class. “The prep isn’t any different. I still get warmed up and loose. I’ll be fine.”
Hatch hasn’t done this with a machismo some champions have carried. He says very little during matches, instead focusing on what needs to be done to get one more win. One more advantage. One more chance. With 29 wins and zero losses heading into tonight’s dual with Concord, the method is working. Hatch claimed his second title in as many years in December at the mega-tough Al Smith Invite, culminating his 138-pound title over Jason Crary from Munster where Hatch said ‘I just had to take a risk’, which resulted in a late takedown and a 3-0 win. Titles at East Noble and Garrett this month have only solidified the mission.
“I look at things as ‘I’m going to win.’ I have to keep a winning mentality and work my best,” Hatch said. “I can’t be my best if I’m sinking down to someone else’e level. I just work with that I know what I have to do and keep to what is within my ability.”
Hatch will enter this weekend’s Northern Lakes Conference tournament as the number one seed in his weight class, and likely be the top seed at sectional and regional, assuming Hatch isn’t upset along the way. He is currently ranked at No. 7 in the state, but No. 1 in the East Chicago Semi-state at 138, with Crary currently second in the semi-state.
As with most wrestlers, Hatch isn’t putting stock on titles or individual rankings. Those come and go, despite their importance in the journey. Hatch, who has 107 wins already in his career and has two top-eights in the state tournament, is only focused on standing last at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in February. And then, and only then, will Warsaw’s superman allow himself to relax.
“At the end of the year, right after state. That’s when I can relax.”