Williamstown senior Keith Sutton (second from left) gave his formal commitment to continue his wrestling career at Fairmont State University. Also pictured is the Williamstown wrestling coaching staff, from left: Dalton George, Tyler George (head coach) and David Hastings. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WILLIAMSTOWN – Wrestling is a passion for Keith Sutton.

More importantly, the sport gave his life meaning.

Friday afternoon inside the Williamstown High School gymnasium, the senior made his official commitment to continue his wrestling career at Fairmont State University.

“Wrestling in college means a lot knowing what I came from,” Sutton said. “I was in a very bad situation when I was younger. Now look how far I have come.”

Sutton wrestled pee wee for Williamstown until seventh grade, took a break, then returned for junior year. This past season, he earned a starting role at heavyweight. A leg injury in the early-going sidelined him until he returned in the latter part of the schedule.

Sutton just missed qualifying for the state tournament.

Prior to the injury, Sutton was set on enlisting in the Navy. Upon his return to the lineup, he adjusted his thought process and wanted to attend college as a student-athlete.

“I was laying in bed one night and felt something spoke to me and said you have so much left to give with wrestling. I felt like I had so much more left in the gas tank that I didn’t get to use in high school.

“The next day, I called up the coach at Fairmont State.”

Williamstown coach Tyler George was shocked – in a good sense – when he heard Sutton chose to stick with wrestling after graduation. George taught Sutton at the elementary level, so he has seen the adversity this particular individual had to overcome over the years.

“Just for him to make it to college is a huge accomplishment,” George said. “If you would ask half his teachers three to four years ago, they would have thought no chance. As far as he has come, I couldn’t be more proud of this kid.

“Although Keith didn’t wrestle for an extremely long time, he is so passionate about the sport. It doesn’t matter what his talent level is. He works hard and loves the sport. For him to want to stick through it and try to compete at the Division II level in college is outstanding.”

His freshman year, he lost nearly 100 pounds. Eventually, Sutton put on muscle and mass and became a three-year member of the Williamstown football team which won two state titles and finished runner-up once. Sutton started his senior year at left tackle.

“The football family is something I will never forget,” Sutton said.

Sutton admits the death of his mother (Belinda Sutton) and grandmother in the past several years left him in a dark place. But he uses their memories as motivation. He wants to make them proud.

A lengthy heart-to-heart conversation with a Williamstown assistant coach helped give Sutton peace of mind.

“(David Hastings) and I sat down for two hours in the wrestling office,” Sutton remembers. “He told me that at the end of the day, do what your heart tells you. And my heart told me I have to come back.

“I was so out of shape. I didn’t think I would make it. The coaches said I have a week to get back into shape or not wrestle. I grinded it out. All the work I put into it, I am so glad I came back. I fell in love with the sport.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsansentinel.com