By Alicia Couch Payne
It’s no secret that Buford’s athletics are top-notch and that they produce champions with great careers. There’s one senior this year who has a career that is impressive even by Buford standards. That senior is wrestler Logan Ashton.
Ashton came to Buford in the 9th-grade seeking a smaller community feel and the opportunity to wrestle with a high school team that travels. He has been a member of the varsity wrestling team since his freshman year.
The key to his success is his training philosophy. Ashton trains at Compound Wrestling in Buford, Ga. He believes in taking very little time off. When most wrestlers are taking time off from wrestling and training, Ashton can be found lifting weights or watching film of matches.
Ashton’s training and mental edge have paid dividends. His overall high school wrestling win record is 188-11 with 131 pins. This past weekend, Ashton won the last match of his high school career at the Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic. This invitation-only tournament was held at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois. Logan won the 113 lbs weight class for Team USA against Team Illinois’ Michael Leveille with a 2-0 decision.
All four years of his high school career, Ashton was a Georgia State Finalist and Gwinnett Takedown Association 1st Team All-County. He is a two time Georgia State Champion. He’s been an NHSCA Senior National Champion, NHSCA Junior All-American, NHSCA Sophomore All-American, FLO Nationals All-American, Kansas City Stampede Champion, and Mount Mat Madness Champion.
His sophomore year at the NHSCA National Championships, Ashton wrestled with a torn ligament in his shoulder. Ashton, who placed third in the tournament, said that this particular meet was the most difficult one of his career. On the opposite end, he claimed that this year’s State Traditional Championships was his favorite meet of his career.
Buford Head Wrestling Coach Tom Beuglas spoke highly of Ashton, “It has been a pleasure coaching Logan these last three years. He has excellent character. He is a great team leader, a very good student, and does the right things all the time. I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to coach him. He has earned every accolade he has received.”
Ashton said the person who has had the biggest academic influence on him was without a doubt his father, Eric Ashton. His father is a principal at Daves Creek Elementary in Forsyth County. Mr. Ashton has been at every match of his son’s and has played a large part in Ashton’s career.
His successful wrestling career along with his academics got the attention of recruiters at Stanford University. Ashton can boast a 3.7 GPA to go with his busy schedule. Ashton has committed to wrestle for Stanford in the Fall. He hopes to pursue a degree in business or economics while at Stanford.
Ashton leaves Buford with perhaps the best record of any Buford wrestler. Record-keeping for the wrestling team has not always been the best so we cannot officially say that Ashton is the most successful wrestler to walk to the halls at Buford but the chances are pretty good that he is. Either way, Buford is proud of how well Ashton has represented them. Congratulations Logan and best luck in your future!
