Forty four times this season, Heather Porter has had a front-row seat to watch her “baby boy” go up against wrestlers two or three years older than he is.
Only Heather could get away with calling De Soto freshman Landon Porter a “baby” anything. Porter is quickly rising to the top of the heavyweight division in Class 3 after winning the District 1 championship Saturday in Farmington.
Heather said sometimes she can’t bear to watch, but she always does.
“It’s been very nerve-wracking and exhausting,” she said moments after watching Landon pin Hillsboro sophomore Joe Becker in the final match of the tournament. “I’m very proud of my son. He’s been wrestling for a long time. In little league, it was kind of a struggle, but he’s got the knack for it and he just keeps pressing on.”
Porter pinned Becker earlier in the season. He thought he might face him again.
“I wanted to keep my composure,” he said. “I know (Becker) learned from that first match, just like I did.”
Hillsboro head coach Lee Freeman has seen enough of Porter this season to know he’s got unlimited ability on the mat. Freeman said Becker and Porter should be fun to watch battle the next two years.
“(Porter’s) got a low center of gravity and some strength to go with the athleticism,” Freeman said. “When you’re looking at heavyweight, he’s got everything you want to have. I don’t think he’s impenetrable, but tonight for us it came out that way.”
Porter won his first match Friday by fall before meeting Washington senior Connor Muller in the semifinals. Porter eaked out a 4-3 decision.
“He’s smart and has been on the mat since he was very young,” De Soto head coach John Brown said. “He knows how to position himself against different opponents and he’s fun to watch.”
Porter (38-6) earned a No. 1 seed at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Wrestling Championships and will wrestle Platte County junior Matthew Knopp (30-19) in the first round Thursday. Porter is the only freshman in the heavyweight field in Class 3.
Brown doesn’t think his freshman phenom will be overwhelmed.
“The state tournament is all about attitude and will to win,” Brown said. “But sometimes it’s luck. I’ve seen that too.”
According to missouriwrestling.com, Porter is ranked fourth among heavyweights in Class 3. McDonald County junior Bronnie Kinser (43-7) is ranked first.
“I want to place,” Porter said. “That’s been my goal all along.”
Heather said her son is very confident but he’s not arrogant or cocky.
“He knows he has to work hard,” she said. “This is wrestling. It’s just you and another guy out there.”
What will it be like around the Porter household before they all head to Columbia?
“It’s in my mind already, Heather said. “Gosh, we’ll be getting ready to go to Columbia. I think we’ll do alright.”
This isn’t Porter’s first success on the varsity. He played varsity football at tight end and on the defensive line. He said his success can be attributed to everyone who’s helped him along the way.
“I have a great support system,” he said. “I’ve had great coaches since I was in first grade. I just love wrestling so much.”
Don’t let Porter’s braces and pleasant demeanor fool you. He’s fully aware that his sport can be bloody and unforgiving.
“It’s legal fighting,” he said. “I’ve been doing it since I was six. I just fell in love with it.”