Of the 32 four-time state champs in state history, Moore was the ninth from Graham joining his coach Jeff Jordan, Jim Jordan, Bo and Micah Jordan and David Taylor among others.
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“It is an awesome feeling because I grew up watching those guys,” Moore said. “Bo and Mic were my idols and I looked at them like celebrities. They are great all around people because they are as great off the mat as they are on the mat and I hope little kids look up to me like that.”
Moore recorded a escape and takedown in the second period for a 3-0 lead and hung on to win the Division II title at 145 pounds as Bo and Micah watched from the stands.
“It’s weird because I grew up watching them win four and now they are watching me win mine,” Moore said. “It feels good every time and I loved every second of it. It hasn’t hit me that this is the last time I will wear the black and grey.”
Coach Jordan could tell both Moore and senior Rocky Jordan, who won his third title, were tight heading into the finals.
“Mitch told me before his match we have seen three guys in the last two years lose when going for their fourth and he didn’t want to be that guy,” Jeff Jordan said. “Rocky was really tight too because they are expected to win.”
Graham got also got titles from Tanner Jordan (113) and Joey Sanchez (152) to finish with 231 points and win its 18th straight title.
“You look at Tanner and Joey, they didn’t have state titles yet and they went out there and went after it,” Jeff Jordan said. “I told the guys this week that there are some of them who weren’t born yet when this streak began.”
“I’ve enjoyed the privilege to coach at Graham. It has been a goal of mine since I was in high school because there is something special going on at Graham. When you put on that black and grey singlet, you are expected to win a state title, or place high and we just happened to have got on a roll.”
Rocky Jordan exploded to a 5-0 lead in the first 30 seconds of his 170-pound Division II title match against Claymont’s Ashton Eyler at the Schottenstein Center and hung on for a 5-3 win.
Jordan’s third title – combined with four by father/coach Jeff, four by his uncle Jim, four each by brothers Bo and Micah and three each by cousins Ben and Isaac – was the 25th for the family. The Jordan family is 110-3 in state matches.
“It is different to try and follow in the footsteps of my dad and brothers and cousins and uncle,” Rocky Jordan said. “But they’ve been here. I just try to follow what they say and the experiences they have.”
Jeff Jordan and his brother, Jim, were among the first four-time state champs.
“I never thought this would happen,” Jeff Jordan said. “But I make my living coaching wrestling and my boys liked to go to the room to hang out with dad and things just kind of fell into place.
“I’ve enjoyed the privilege to coach at Graham. It has been a goal of mine since I was in high school because there is something special going on at Graham. When you put on that black and grey singlet, you are expected to win a state title, or place high and we just happened to have got on a roll.”
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