×

Warren’s Peyten Kellar battled through adversity to bring home state wrestling title

Photo courtesy of Michelle Kellar Warren’s Peyten Kellar stands atop the podium at the state wrestling tournament alonside head coach Jeff Parsons. Kellar placed first in the 152-pound weight class to claim the state title.

VINCENT — Between last year’s state wrestling tournament getting canceled, dealing with a global pandemic, and losing their home and everything they own to a fire, 2020 was a devastating year for Warren senior Peyten Kellar and his family.

For many, it could have been too much to overcome. Kellar, though, cleared all the challenges and adversity, and came out of it a champion.

Over the weekend at Marengo Highland High School, Kellar placed first in the 152-pound weight class to claim the Division II state title. He defeated Granville’s Douglas Terry via a 3-1 decision in the championship match.

“It means a lot,” said Kellar, who is 85-0 since the end of his sophomore season. “I’ve been working for it all this time.”

Kellar had defeated Terry earlier this season, but with so much on the line, the nerves kicked in.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Kellar Warren's Peyten Kellar competes during the state tournament, which took place at Marengo Highland High School this year due to COVID-19.

“I was so nervous I almost threw up,” he said. “I’d never been there before. I had to pace myself before the match started. I was still a little nervous during the first period, but I just continued to wrestle.”

Warren head coach Jeff Parsons, who has coached Kellar since he was 4 years old, knew the senior could handle the pressure. The two have a good relationship, and he knows what buttons to push to help keep Kellar in the right frame of mind.

“When he’s back there warming up, he’s getting his head in the game,” Parsons said. “I’m trying to crack jokes, and he’ll just look at me and smile. I knew he was still confident. When I can get him laughing before a big match, I know he’s got everything under control.”

In the final, following a scoreless opening period, Kellar chose bottom in the second and he got an escape to go up 1-0. In the third period, Terry chose neutral, and Kellar got a takedown and rode him out to clinch the title.

“Peyten is just a different type of wrestler,” Parsons said. “He stays so calm when he’s out on the mat. He doesn’t get excited or make mistakes that way. He knows what he needs to do and gets it one.”

A natural athlete, Kellar plans to take the spring off before heading off to Ohio University where he will be wrestling at the Division I college level. Before the 2020 schoolyear started, he decided to go out for the Warren football team. He ended earning first team All-Southeast District honors as a defensive back and helped lead the team to its first ever playoff win.

During the season, though, Kellar and his family lost their home to a fire. All of Kellar’s wrestling medals and attire he’s accrued over the year were destroyed.

“Wrestlers are superstitious,” Parsons said. “He lost his favorite shoes, socks, headgear. He had to start all over. He used a lot of that for motivation and drive, and he was able to overcome all of the things he had to overcome.”

When Kellar won state, his mom, Michelle, who is also an assistant coach for Warren, joked “Look, we’ve got a medal that isn’t burnt up.”

The Kellars about have their new home ready to go. As Peyten reflected on his high school wrestling career, he explained all the hard work and dedication that goes into it and what it takes to become a state champion.

“Lots of traveling,” he said. “Lots of extra work and practices, lifting, conditioning, all that extra stuff. Going to big tournaments, nationals, stuff like that.”

Kellar became the third Warren boys wrestler all-time to win a state title, joining Heath Eddleblute and Matt McCoy. Earlier this year, Warren sophomore Hayley Snyder won her second consecutive state title at the girls tournament. Cole Coleman, Jake Welch, Kylie Tait and Karlee Duffey all were state qualifiers as well, making it quite a successful year for the Warriors, despite everything they had to go through.

“That’s huge for a wrestling program around our area,” Parsons said.

“It was a trying year with COVID. Just trying to keep the kids wearing masks and wrestling in pods. We got good support from the school and the kids did an awesome job. We only had two kids test positive all season. I commend the kids on that. We’ve got eight seniors, so we’ve got to take a couple weeks off and then start looking to rebuild for next year.”

Next season, when he’s not coaching, Parsons is hoping to continue following Kellar’s career.

“It’s even better that he signed with OU,” he said. “He’s going to be wrestling in college a half hour away, so we can support and watch him still continue to chase his dreams.”

Jordan Holland can be reached at jholland@mariettatimes.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today