Athlete Spotlight: James Wood wrestler Corey Lemons

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI | The Winchester Star

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Wrestling. Weight class: 132 pounds

Parents: Chad and Karen Lemons. Hometown: Gore

What do you love about wrestling: Just the one-on-one aspect of it. Everything that you put in, you get out. You don’t have to rely on anybody else.

Most memorable moment in wrestling: Probably the Max Horz tournaments [in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.]. I’ve won that twice, and our team always does really well there. (On Dec. 9, James Wood won the tournament for the third straight year.) It’s a lot of fun to have success with everybody. This year we came back from a 40-point deficit on the second day, and there was a group of us that won in the finals and performed really well, and we were able to squeak out a win by 2.5 points. That was exciting.

Most embarrassing moment in wrestling: My sophomore year, I was wrestling up a weight class, and I got picked up. There was nothing I could do about it. He picked me up and dropped me from way up high right on my back, and I got pinned right off of that. It was probably 20, 30 seconds into the match.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My grandfather Larry; he passed away two years ago. He came to every sporting event I had ever been in since I started tee ball. He was a really big supporter of mine. My best friend [and wrestler] Aaron Curd; he and I have been best friends since we were 5, and anytime we go anywhere, it’s always so much fun, whether it’s just breakfast in the morning of if we go on a trip somewhere. We do everything together. And Abraham Lincoln; he’s in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and I feel like he had a pretty good mindset.

If you could use a time machine, where/when would you go: I’d probably go back to ancient Rome and go to the Colosseum to watch gladiator fights. I think that would be interesting.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: Alaska. I love the mountains, the scenery there, the environment.

Favorite teacher: Ms. [Audra] Bounds, my fifth-grade teacher at Gainesboro Elementary. She was very patient with me throughout a tough part of my life, and really shaped who I am today.

Favorite athlete: [Olympic gold medal wrestler] Kyle Snyder

Favorite team: Washington Nationals

Favorite movie: “Saving Private Ryan”

Favorite TV show: “Parks and Recreation”

Favorite song: “Mountain at My Gates” by Foals

Plans after high school: I want to go somewhere and study recreation management and do outdoor recreation or parks and recreation. I’ve been involved with parks and rec and different summer camps for a while. It’s a passion of mine.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki