Three years ago, Dylan Lockard was a rarity for the Timberlane Regional wrestling team.
The fact that Lockard was in the starting lineup as a 130-pound freshman for the talented Owls wasn't so unusual. His won-loss record, 8-22, was.
Even with Timberlane's rugged schedule, it's rare for any Owls' starter not to have a winning record. But Lockard wasn't even close.
"Dylan came in at a time when we didn't have a lot of kids at that weight. And he took his lumps," said Timberlane coach Barry Chooljian. "But we needed him and I kept telling him to stick with it. He was going to help us."
Chooljian was right on. Lockard had an unexpected pin in a historic dual-meet tie at Lowell, and his pin in an early round helped the Owls edge Concord for their eighth straight Division 1 state title.
Still, that 8-22 record was, tough to stomach.
"I had no idea I'd be starting as a freshman, but I still was discouraged," said Lockard. "I remember being really down at the state tournament when I got knocked out and everyone else seemed to be winning and going on (to the Meet of Champions).
"It was definitely tough, but it motivated me to work harder and get better. I had something to work for."
Lockard started wrestling in the sixth grade, including that offseason at the famed "Smitty's Barn" in Danville, but he picked up his intensity after that frustrating freshman season and he became a more frequent visitor to Gordon Smith's highly regarded training facility.
While success didn't come overnight, Lockard has made an impressive progression since his rookie season. He finished 20-20 as a sophomore 135-pounder and last year, in an injury-shortened season, he was 15-11 and finished second at 145 at both the Division 1 state meet and the Meet of Champions.
However, it pales compared to the success Lockard is enjoying this year as the Owls' 152-pounder.
Undefeated in New Hampshire, Lockard finished third at the prestigious Lowell Holiday Tournament and is 20-7 overall, including two pivotal win and impressive 3-2 record in last weekend's Pennsylvania Dual-Meet Festival.
"Dylan has been wrestling great and really came through for us in Pennsylvania," said Chooljian. "Against Pleasant Valley they put their best guy, a 145-pounder, up to 152. The kid got a takedown right away, but Dylan kept at him and won 6-2.
"Then he had another huge win when he came back to tie the kid and won in overtime. That's the way he wrestles — he never gives up and just keeps battling," said Chooljian. "He's one of the quietest kids we've ever had, but he's a great example of how far you can come if you stick with it."
Wrestler on the rise
Dylan Lockard's progression on the Timberlane wrestling team has been steady.
Freshman (130 pounds) — 8-22
Sophomore (135) — 20-20
Junior (145) — 15-11 (runner-up at Division 1 state meet, Meet of Champions)
Senior (152) — 20-7 (third at Lowell Holiday Tournament)
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