There is one last name that comes to everyone’s mind during Northwood’s wrestling season. That last name is Queen.
Junior Hunter and senior Michael Queen are brothers who have been wrestling since they were young. Last season, Hunter finished third in the state, and Michael went to the state tournament but did not place. Going into the 2015-2016 season, both Hunter and Michael are in the top five for their respective weight class.
The brothers started wrestling after their father, former University of North Carolina wrestler Michael Queen Sr., introduced them to the sport.
Hunter sees their father as a mentor.
“It is very interesting having a parent that did the same sport as you at a high level,” Hunter said. “It is great to learn new things from my dad, and it is helpful to have someone so close to you to give you tips.”
However, Michael’s view differs.
“It is cool to look at what he did, but I don’t want to be my dad; I want to be the best I can possibly be,” Michael said.
Hunter is moving up in weight class this year and is a contender for the state championship in the 170-pound weight class. He expects to do it.
“I’m expecting to leave Northwood as a two-time state champion,” Hunter said. “I think I have the ability to win back-to-back state championships.”
Michael is the third-ranked wrestler in the state for the 182-pound weight class. He believes he could win the state championship this year.
“I think I can win the state championship because of how hard I worked in the offseason,” Michael said.
The brothers believe that they cannot win the state championship alone; they understand that they will have to work hard and help each other. They do this during practice by making sure they are working on getting better at something to achieve their goal.
“I expect my brother to push himself to become a better athlete and a state champion wrestler,” Hunter said. We are going to push each other to become state champs; that’s our main goal.”
With two wrestlers in the same household and in different weight classes, the brothers usually do not drill with each other, but this season, it will be different.
“My brother and I don’t wrestle often because we are in two different weight classes,” Hunter said. “This year, we will be drilling with each other a lot more, because we are closer in weight this year.”
While Hunter and Michael do not wrestle each other often, they still try to learn from each other.
“I think having a brother that wrestles is a great thing because we are always together and we can always help each other get better,” Hunter said. “I have learned a lot from Michael.”
Hunter and Michael have been wrestling at a high level throughout their careers. They both have competed in AAU tournaments. People who compete in AAU tournaments are on a club teams trying to get a better ranking at the state and national level. The state AAU rankings are different than the high school state rankings, but both rankings are important. They mentioned that the experience in the AAU tournaments has helped them become better wrestlers.
“I wrestled all throughout middle school, and the experience has prepared me for the competition in high school,” Michael said. “I have also made a lot of friends through wrestling.”
Head wrestling coach Jason Amy has noticed how their experience in middle school has helped them.
“They have more experience than most high school wrestlers because they did it in middle school, and it has made them better,” Amy said.
Hunter does not just wrestle in AAU tournaments; he also competes with a club team. During wrestling season, he practices with the school team for two hours then goes straight to club practice where he drills with some of the best wrestlers in the state.
“My club team is good, and there are good drilling partners all over the room,” Hunter said. “ My club team showed me how to carry myself as a wrestler and a way of life.”
Michael does not want to compete in wrestling at the next level, but Hunter does. Hunter believes he can be one of the best wrestlers in Northwood’s history.
“I want to be an All-American and place in some national tournaments,” Hunter said. “My ultimate goal is to go to a Division I school on a wrestling scholarship.”
– By Jailen Leach