To him, wrestling’s No. 3; but he’s No. 1
DENNY SEITZ
Staff Writer
FORT MILL – When Zach Berg moved from Minnesota to Fort Mill two years ago, he couldn’t wait to get on the wrestling mat, where he figured he’d dominate the 215-pound weight class.
High school wrestling is big in Minnesota and Berg, a senior, figured the competition wouldn’t be as strong in South Carolina.
“I thought I might have a shot at being the big man on campus, “Berg said.
In essence, Berg has become just that.
The senior honor student has won 34 of his 36 matches this season en route to becoming the No. 1-rated wrestler in the state in his weight class. His losses have come against state champions from North Carolina and Georgia. Next week, he’ll be tested again against Northwestern, whose team is ranked in the state’s Top 10.
And wrestling is the least favorite of the sports he plays.
He’s an all-star fullback on the football team and an all-state performer in track, where he competes in the shot put and discus.
“It’s unusual to be so good in this sport and consider it your No. 3 sport, “said his wrestling coach, Chris Brock. “That speaks volumes for the kind of athlete he is. If wrestling were his No. 1 sport, in terms of commitment, what he could accomplish would be unlimited.”
Berg’s favorite sport is track. His second favorite sport is football. There’s a reason he rates wrestling third on the list, but he gets mad at himself for even talking about how hard it is.
“I have so much respect for wrestlers and for wrestling, “he said. “By far, it is the most demanding sport. It’s like a football play that lasts for six minutes.”
The average football play lasts about six seconds.
Berg says wrestling has helped mold his character perhaps even more than the other sports he plays.
“There comes a point, maybe in the final minute or 30 seconds of a wrestling match, when it doesn’t matter how smart or how strong you are, “he said. “The only thing that will get you through is willpower.”
With curly hair and a nonstop smile, Berg hardly looks like a ferocious competitor.
“He’s a great kid, “Fort Mill football coach Greg Taylor said.
But ferocious he is. Berg is always respectful, but when Taylor pulled him out of a football game so that he could get a quick rest last season, he was upset. Taylor quickly put him back onto the field.
“Our team was better if he was out there every play, “the coach said.
Berg was voted team captain in both football and wrestling. He was voted the hardest worker on the football team. His work habits have stayed with him, whether he’s in the classroom, on the football field, the wrestling mat or outside at a track meet.
Other coaches laud his abilities. What they like most is his approach to the sport and the workmanlike mentality that Berg says comes from his parents, who moved the family from Minnesota as part of Billy Graham Ministries.
“He’s a good kid, a classy competitor, “Northwestern coach Mike Biddix said. “He’s not fancy. He’s all about technique. He’s a mature kid. He’s poised. He’s smart.”
Brock knows Berg as well as just about anyone. He says what defines his star wrestler is his desire. “It’s a mano y mano sport, “Brock said. “Some people don’t excel in that kind of environment. But Zach is a tough competitor. He wants to win. He’ll fight until the last second’s expired off the clock.”
Last year, Berg was upset in the semifinals of the individual state championship meet. His goal since that day has been to make up for the loss and gain a state title. The playoffs start in February.
“I don’t want to hex myself, “he said last week. “But the only thing stopping me is me.”
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