By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Geneseo High School senior Devan Hornback reached the elite at the recent Geneseo Wrestling Invitational when he scored his 100th win in the sport.
Hornback, who wrestles at 132 pounds, was aware that the match at the Geneseo Invite could be his 100th win, and that is something that will be a lasting memory for him… “I knew before the tournament that I was one more win away from 100. After my match, my family and teammates held 100-win signs up while Coach (Jon) Murray brought my poster out to me and they announced it over the speakers.”
Devan Hornback. His parents are Chris and Brandy Hornback and Valerie and Chris Sauerbrei. Geneseo Current Photo
His goal is to wrestle at State this year and he added, “My goal is to not only make it down there this year, but to bring some hardware home.”
He began wrestling when he was in third grade and has been a four-year starter for the GHS wrestling team.
“I chose the sport because I enjoy challenging myself and I get to be around people who push each other to be their best, he said.
When he was asked to comment about wrestling as an individual sport, Hornback said, “Even though it’s an individual sport, we come in day-in and day- out and work our hardest. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Devan is not the only wrestler in the Hornback family as his brother also wrestled for GHS and went on to be named an All-American at 125 pounds at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The standout athlete also played football this past season.
“All of my coaches have had a really positive impact on me with not only how they’ve coached, but how they have made me a better person,” Hornback said. “Coach Murray has always instilled in us to be good men off the mat and on the mat.
He shared his favorite memory from wrestling at GHS is “when we took home the fourth place Team State Trophy in my sophomore year.”
When he graduates this spring, Hornback plans to join the Army National Guard and then become part of the wresting team at Central College in Pella, Iowa.
He was asked to share some advice to younger wrestlers and he said, “Go out there and just have fun and do your best because it goes by faster than you would ever think.”
Hornback said his favorite food is “steak and rolls form Texas Roadhouse and I look forward to eating a lot of food and finishing up high school after wrestling season.”