Godwin Nyama Makes PIAA History

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It was the perfect ending to a inspirational story on Saturday night at the GIANT Center. For someone who first went to a wrestling match in order to watch his sister compete, who couldn’t “hit a switch” two years ago, who faced the adversity of knowing he was an African-American in a sport predominantly comprised of Whites and who was from the inner-city of Pittsburgh in a league that has never been known or recognized for it’s wrestling ability, Godwin Nyama overcame a great deal of obstacles to win the Class AAA 120 LBS State Championship.

But is it in fact the ending to this unique story? For Godwin, this may just be the beginning, as he will attend the University of Pittsburgh and compete for the Panthers Wrestling squad. As his coaches made their way to the medal stand prior to awarding Godwin with his first PIAA Gold Medal, they held back tears and stated “For someone to come from where he has, this is unbelievable, this is unreal.”

Last season Godwin made history when he placed seventh at 112 LBS in Class AAA and became the first District 8 wrestler ever to earn a PIAA Medal. That wasn’t enough for Godwin. He competed in every off-season tournament he possibly could. Godwin entered the prestigious Super 32 Tournament in October and placed 7th. In 2011, by the urging of his coaches and others, Godwin was admitted to the hands-down toughest High School Wrestling Tournament in the Nation, The Walsh Ironman Tournament. Godwin advanced to the semi-final by defeating several higher seeded wrestlers and ended up placing fifth in a field that consisted of multiple nationally ranked wrestlers. The following month Brashear competed in the 45th Annual POWERade Christmas Tournament for the first time ever. Nyama was seeded fifth but that didn’t stop the senior from entering the finals and earning his and District 8’s first ever POWERade Championship.

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While Nyama’s POWERade Championship was impressive by all accounts, the fact still stood, PIAA State Champion Connor Schram of Canon McMillan did not compete due to a minor back injury. Schram was the PIAA State runner-up in 2011 at 112 LBS, a year after he won the 103 LBS State Championship as a freshman in 2010. Once Schram returned to the Big Mac’s line-up at 120 LBS, the junior moved into the #1 State Ranking position. #2 Godwin was capable, if not certain, to prove all the doubters wrong for the countless time in his relatively short wrestling career.

While Schram and Canon McMillan were busy winning a State AAA Dual Team Championship in Hershey, Nyama was back in Pittsburgh’s Brashear High School relentlessly drilling, conditioning and preparing for his final chance at a State Championship. In the individual post-season Nyama cruised to his fourth straight District 8 Championship and advanced to the AAA Northwest Regional Tournament where for a second straight season he won the NW Regional title.

Connor Schram earned his third straight WPIAL Southwest Regional Championship and once the PIAA brackets were released for the 120 LBS weight class, the stage was set for a historic State final. As expected both Schram and Nyama advanced to the 120 LBS finals with hard fought victories. In the finals, Nyama a takedown machine who’s mat skills are underrated, and Schram, a physical wrestler equally as talented from neutral, exchanged a pair of escapes and ended three periods knotted at 1-1. In the final seconds of the third period, Nyama was awarded a TD that appeared to be legitimate but was waived off after a discussion by both refs. After a failed appeal by Nyama’s coach, sudden death overtime began. Both wrestlers came within feet of a TD, with Schram running out of real-estate on a single-leg shot and Nyama sweeping a leg that was fought off. Finally, with the 1 minute of overtime coming to a close, Nyama faked a single-leg shot, and caught Schram dead center for a straight double leg takedown to end the match.

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The reaction by Nyama, the crowd and his coaches was unforgettable. Before having his hand raised and the crowd cheering him on Nyama leaped into his assistant coach’s arms and was lifted into the air. The dream had come true: Godwin Nyama of Brashear was a Pennsylvania State Champion.

I was fortunate enough to interview Godwin following the presentation of medals at 120 LBS and with emotions running high, the Brashear senior described his career and the feeling of finally achieving what he had heard over and over again could not be done (Click Here For The Interview). The story of Godwin Nyama in unique for several reasons. First and foremost this occurred in Pennsylvania, the undisputed leader of High School Wrestling in the Nation. Godwin qualifying for and placing at the PIAA State Tournament last season, only three years after taking up the sport, is incredible enough. It was not uncommon several decades ago for accomplished wrestler to start their wrestling careers as freshmen in high school. Today, however, the best wrestlers have been on the mat since 1st grade or soon after. By the time top notch wrestlers reach high school, they have competed in National tournaments, joined club teams, and are crowned the “next best thing.”

The strides and advancement Godwin accomplished in such a short period of time in unheard of at this level. Have talented athletes picked up wrestling in their freshmen or sophomore years and go on to find success on the State level previously, yes. But this is not one of those cases. Godwin is from the City Limits  of Pittsburgh, where Basketball is king and, until the last 5 or 6 years, the sport of wrestling was on life-support.  This is not the classic football player turned wrestler story (taking nothing away from the current or previous examples of such wrestlers). This is a wrestler who in his first ever season of competition was 1 match away from qualifying for the PIAA State AAA Tournament at 103 LBS with very little general wrestling skills.

Godwin’s rapid improvement can be seen in his progression throughout the years against the same opponents. In 2009, as a freshmen at the NW Regional, Nyama lost (1-0) to Bald Eagle Area’s Justin Gierdoc at 103 LBS. The following season at 103 LBS, in 2010, Nyama defeated Gierdoc (12-6) at the same Tournament. In 2010 at 103 LBS Nyama lost to Clearfield’s Christian Stone (10-6) during the NW Regional semi-finals. A year later in 2011, at 112 LBS, Nyama defeated Stone (12-3) at the same Tournament, in the same round. Last season at 112 LBS Godwin finished in seventh place at the PIAA State Tournament while Connor Schram finished as the runner-up. Last weekend Godwin defeated Schram in the State finals.

Godwin Nyama finished his high school wrestling career at Brashear with a 126-19 record, earning a seventh place PIAA Medal and a PIAA State Championship. Godwin was recently named to the Dapper Dan line-up for the WPIAL Team despite coming from the Pittsburgh City League.

I wish nothing but the best for this young man as he moves on to the next chapter of his life. It is evident that the sport of wrestling has changed Godwin Nyama’s life for the better and forever.

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