Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Tennessee wrestler will solidify Flames' upper-middleweights
4/23/2021 12:00:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
Theo Sewell Jr., a Tennessee state runner-up 195-pound wrestler this past season despite weighing in at 182 pounds, is the first of at least four incoming Liberty University men's wrestling recruits ranging between 174 and 197 pounds that Head Coach Jesse Castro has lined up for the Fall 2021 class.
"Theo qualified for state at 170 pounds in his junior year and took second at 195 wrestling underweight," Castro said, noting that he let a state championship teammate compete at the 182-pound weight class. "He's not a 197 pounder for us yet, and will likely start at 174 or 184."
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| Sewell wrestled above his weight class to advance to the Tennessee 195-pound state championship final. |
Sewell, the son of Shelia and Theo Sewell, Sr., was born in Natchez, Miss., and now resides in Cordova, Tenn., where he was the city champion as a freshman and became a three-time regional champion and state qualifier from his sophomore through senior seasons.
He was selected to the All-Memphis (Tenn.) Metro team and was nominated for 2021 Commercial Appeal Wrestler of the Year this year, racking up more than 100 wins for his high school career.
Sewell attends Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church and is also a member of the Memphis Omega Lamplighters, a volunteer and service organization. He plans to study in Liberty's School of Communication and the Arts with a focus on sports journalism and a career goal of going into sports broadcasting.
He will bring a positive attitude to campus with the ability to meet and engage with new people of diverse backgrounds and a willingness and openness to learn from others around him, according to Shelia Sewell.
"Theo is hard working, humble, and dedicated to becoming a better version of himself each day," she said. "He has a strong support system who will help reach each of his goals."
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| Theo Sewell Jr. stands with his high school wrestling coach and athletic director during his signing ceremony. |
Castro and his coaching staff and Sewell's new teammates will provide a band of brothers and mentors around him out of the new Liberty Club Sports Complex, which serves as the headquarters for both the Flames and Lady Flames wrestling programs.
"He came for College For A Weekend (CFAW) in April and he got along really well with the guys on our team," Castro said. "He's very excited, and that is a highly attractive quality that he brings. He is very passionate about wrestling, coming from a good program that has a year-round commitment to training."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
