A fiery form of a junior of Parkersburg South helped the team to sail on to the West Virginia State Wrestling Tournament in the previous year. He had captured the limelight with an impressive 33-3 record that year. “It really paid off and we’re a real young team so next year looks pretty good”, was his response to a media agency after claiming his 100th victory in his tenure that time. 

This year, as a senior, a bigger expectation garnered around him. Hopefully, he didn’t disappoint his fans through his new tactics in winning the Ironman Wrestling Tournament Championship 2023 title. Interestingly, he hailed NLWC star Jason Nolf for his match-winning technique.

NLWC star’s move “works like gold”

The fifth-seeded Gage Wright of Parkersburg South took the 4:52 mark to topple Colin Kelly, the sixth-seeded to claim his Ironman Wrestling title in the 175-pound category. However, the NLWC connection emerged victorious also as Gage Wright inflicted a move in the final that could only second Jason Nolf. FioWrestling’s X post supported Gage Wright’s post-match statement. In his disclosure, Wright mentioned that move as Winn-Dixie taught by the NLWC star. 

In the posted video, Gage Wright can be seen attempting the signature NLWC move in the last minute of the game. That couldn’t hold the referee from declaring the 2023 senior-year wrestler the winner. Meanwhile, the distraught Colin Kelly and the exuberant commentators couldn’t believe the suddenness of the move. But Wright chuckled, “Winnie Dixie. Works like a gold, I swear”. That paramounted his learning spree from his proclaimed ‘Godfather’, Jason Nolf. 

Jason Nolf, the mastermind behind the Winn-Dixie move 

Jason Nolf’s NLWC stint faced the most unfathomable challenge from the world champion, Kyle Dake, in several checkpoints. But that couldn’t brush off Nolf’s competence in administering the Winn-Dixie. Once wrestling media personality, Ryan Holmes listed the move in the all-time signature greats in NCAA wrestling. Apart from grappling on the rings, the NLWC athlete took several coaching sessions where he tutored the mentees in his signature move. Gage Wright might have been in one of those sessions. 

Read more: 3X NCAA Champion Wrestler Offers an Unusual Perspective on the World of High School and College Wrestling

However, the 2023 Ironman title positioned Wright in the list of winners from the Mountain State with the legendary Ryan Metz, Casey Daggett, and Braxton Amos. It also extended his run in earning 5-0 in the genesis of his senior season. Now it would be a treat to watch how he would carry on the mountain-high comparison with Braxton Amos or others. 

Watch this story: World Wrestling Champion hailing from Serbia flies high during off-season with ‘Air Jordans ‘ promoting basketball legend Michael Jordan