Two weeks ago, Ultimate Fighting Champion interim lightweight champion Connor McGregor stepped into the Octagon with an entire nation in his corner.
It’s fair to say he carried the hopes of the nation on his back. Jamar Davis can relate.
The 170-pound sophomore for the Orange wrestling team was slated for the Panthers’ final bout in a heated dual match against Northwood. McGregor carried a nation on his back. Davis, in his first season wrestling regularly for Orange’s varsity, was carrying Orange’s hopes for a 14th consecutive conference championship.
Northwood’s Michael Queen had just scored a pinfall victory to vault the Chargers into a 36-34 lead. Which meant Davis had to win against Northwood’s Luke Orbich, or else the Chargers would be the ones to end Orange’s long dominance in the Big 8.
Davis stood up to the challenge, scoring a majority decision in a 19-4 victory. Orange took the dual match 38-36 to improve to 14-0, 2-0 in the Big 8 with a vital match against Chapel Hill coming in January.
Davis is 18-7 with eight pins this season. He captured three victories at this week’s Tiger Holiday Wrestling Classic.
He’s also a rare three-sports athlete. He plays soccer in the winter and track and field in the spring.