Marquez Brown

Prep Sports article
Stars' Brown emerges as potential state champion

Most pro football observers have said that the only team that can beat the Rams is the Rams. In other words, if the Rams do not hurt themselves with mistakes, no team has better talent.

McCluer North wrestling coach Todd Hayes feels the same way about his 125 pound junior Marquez Brown.

After finishing fourth in the state last year, Brown is off to a 23-3 start and is looking like a true state title contender. Now Hayes just has to convince Brown of that.

"The biggest thing with him is to get him to believe that he is one of the best," Hayes said. "He has that kind of ability. But I think he always kind of questions whether he belongs."

Brown has proven that he has the ability to beat the best. Although Brown, who had a final record of 38-8, finished fourth, Hayes noted that he very easily could have been in the state finals last year.

"He probably should, or at least could, have been there," Hayes said. "In the semifinals, he was facing a kid that he had already beaten once fairly easily during the year. But for whatever reason, he didn't wrestle and got beat.

"If he goes out there and wrestles aggressively, he is very hard to beat."

This year, Brown has been tried to be more aggressive.

"I think I'm a little more confident," he said. "I know what I can do out there."

In the Stars' big match with Hazelwood Central, Brown showed what he could do. With his team trailing, Brown knew that a victory would not be enough. He had to go out and pin his opponent.

After having Adam Wulf on his back most of the match, Brown finally got the pin. That made it a one-point match again and set the state for North's rally.

Hayes noted that Brown was just following orders.

"Before the meet, we went over everything and told them what we needed from each weight class," Hayes said. "We told Marquez we needed a fall at his weight class.

"Every move he made was dedicated toward getting that fall. He worked at it until he got it, which says something for him."

"I knew we needed that," Brown said. "I was able to get in position for it, and I wasn't going to let go."

Brown showed as a freshman that he is willing to do what it takes to help the team. He transferred to McCluer North from North Carolina, and his father contacted Hayes about having Brown wrestle at McCluer North. Hayes agreed to give him a chance.

Needless to say, the audition went well.

"He had picked up some bad habits from his little league, but you could tell he clearly had ability," Hayes said.

As a freshman, Brown only weighed 120 pounds. But the only way for him to get in the lineup was to wrestle up at 130, which he did. Brown finished with a 25-17 mark, despite giving 10 pounds away each match.

"That kind of showed what he is about," Hayes said.

Now, Brown has progressed to the point where he would like to be wrestling in the finals at the state meet next month.

"My goal is to improve on where I finished last year," he said. "I think I can do that."