Marty Gordon
Evan Mefford started wrestling when he was five years old and this week he reached 100 wins in his high school career.
The Christiansburg senior has a 100-40 overall record.
Looking back, he has had plenty of success as a three-time state qualifier and region placer. He was third at 126 in the Class 3 ranks in 2023 and fourth in 2024 as he moved up to 144 pounds.
He feels his greatest match was a consolation semifinal match at the state tournament in 2024.
“I was wrestling the number one wrestler all class, down 6-0 with 45 seconds left, I threw him onto his back and pinned him to advance to the third-place match. My greatest accomplishment is my third-place finish at WSAZ (Invitational) where I took out a West Virginia state champ and multiple West Virginia state place winners.”
Mefford does not have to look too far for mentors. His father wrestled at Coeburn High School and one of his biggest supporters is former Christiansburg High coach Tim Miles, who also wrestled at CHS and is Mefford’s club coach.
“He (Miles) has helped me in so many aspects on the mat and grown me as a person. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without Coach Miles,” Mefford said.
Also, the Virginia Elite Wrestling Club has been a powerful influence on him from the youth level up.
“The entire club and community has supported me through high school, [I] just want to make sure they also get some credit. Coach Miles is the head coach at Virginia Elite,”
His goal this year is to win a regional championship and reach the ultimate one that he has missed out on, a state title.
Mefford plans to attend Virginia Tech and pursue a business degree.