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06/03/2021 12:00 AMChris Murphy made some major history for the Guilford wrestling team this year. Chris, a junior, became the second wrestler in program history to earn All-American honors.
Chris is a junior captain with the Grizzlies’ wrestling squad. Chris dedicated himself to the sport of wrestling at an early age, and all of that effort is paying dividends for the 195-pounder.
“I started with the local youth program Arrowhead Wrestling when I was only four. I transitioned to club wrestling by the time I was 11,” says Chris. “I got into the sport because my uncle wrestled in high school with my current coach [Craig Vedrani], so I was already familiar with Vedrani and the program.”
Chris made a colossal leap on the wrestling mat following the end of his sophomore season in 2020. Chris had a solid campaign, but was unable to qualify for states as a sophomore. Chris started putting in extra effort during the offseason and, one year later, he was an All-American based on his performance at a major national competition.
“In March of 2020, I was not a very good wrestler, but I decided I wanted to make a jump. I bought a mat for my basement and wrestled every day through the pandemic,” Chris says. “In September, I joined a club in Bridgeport, where I have access to the best coaches and practice partners in New England. In the past few months, I have been going to tournaments all over the East Coast and sharpening my skills every day.”
Chris went 19-9 and finished second in the 170-pound weight class at the SCC Championship in his sophomore year. The Grizzlies didn’t have a season in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Chris stayed committed to improving his craft and finally got a chance to showcase his talents at the national level. From April 23 to 25, Chris competed at the High School National Wrestling Championship in Virginia Beach and finished in sixth place, securing his status as an All-American grappler.
“The national tournament was where I finally got to see my work paying off. With our season being canceled, I had few results to show college coaches until then,” says Chris. “This was the first big success that I have had, but it makes me hungry for more, because I know I am capable.”
One of Chris’s most avid supporters is Coach Vedrani. Guilford’s coach describes Chris as one of the hardest workers that he’s ever seen in his 21 years of coaching.
“Chris’s recent success comes from mental toughness and his willingness to put in the work. He has been training like a madman since the season ended last year,” Vedrani says. “Chris was voted captain this year as a junior, because he is a natural born leader and extremely mature for his age. I can’t wait to see him lead this team and compete on the mat next winter.”
Chris had to travel an arduous road to on his way to becoming an All-American. Chris lost one of his first matches during the tournament and then had to win five consecutive contests in order to attain that honor with a sixth-place finish in the 195-pound division.
“My favorite moment as an athlete was my run on the backside of the bracket at nationals. After losing in an early round, I had to win five matches in the span of two hours to become an All-American,” Chris says. “All of my opponents were very tough and, by the end of the night, I could hardly walk, but I came out on top.”
Coach Vedrani was impressed with how Chris overcame some early adversity to make All-American. Vedrani feels proud about how much Chris has progressed as a wrestler throughout the past year.
“Chris wrestled his tail off at nationals, and I couldn’t be happier to see him earn All-American honors,” says Vedrani. “He’s the second wrestler in school history to accomplish that.”
Along with his accomplishments on that mat, Chris also founded the foundation Pounds for Poverty, which benefits the Guilford Food Bank. Each wrestler on team chooses three lifts to max out on, and people can donate to the foundation by sponsoring wrestlers during their respective lifts.
Chris has another national tournament in Fargo, North Dakota on the way. Chris can’t wait to get back out there and test his mettle against some of the best competitors in the United States.
“I am going to North Dakota in July to compete at Fargo Nationals,” says Chris. “That is the best freestyle and Greco tournament in America, and I couldn’t be more excited to get after it.”