Macon Reporter

The Decatur Public Schools District #61 Board of Education recently recognized a Baum Elementary School student for winning a national wrestling championship.

“Please join me in congratulating Mr. Jeremiah Hayes, our National Wrestling Folkstyle champion,” Maria Robertson, the district's Community Engagement director, said at the April 25 school board meeting.

Jeremiah, a sixth-grader, won the 12U division at the National Wrestling Folkstyle Championships. He took third place last year and was determined to bring home the gold this year, which he did, adding to his ten total national titles from across the country.

Jeremiah started wrestling at five years of age and fell in love with it, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather who wrestled in high school and college. He won his first title in 2019 and, as Robertson said in the meeting, he “established some name recognition, and began to receive invites to participate in dual teams” and won every match.

At the meeting, father Elijah thanked the board for the recognition of his son and also praised Jeremiah for his achievements and work ethic.

“Not only did he win a national championship, but he also won Outstanding Wrestler Award as at the 12 year division, so pretty pretty major accomplishment there,” Elijah said. “So very proud of him. He puts a lot of hard work into the sport for each and every time he goes out on the mat, tows the line to do the best he can possibly do.”

As noted in the meeting, Jeremiah has also been able to excel academically due to the fact that he spends a lot of time in the car traveling to different meets, which gives him plenty of time to study.

The young champion showed the board some of his medals and offered advice to other young wrestlers.

“If you want to go in, work hard, just go at it,” Jeremiah said. “It does matter.”