SW's Delaney headed to Division I

By ADAM PRUIETT

adamp@nwfdailynews.com

Ask Odie Delaney about wrestling, and the South Walton standout is likely to steer the conversation toward his influences.

There's Marty Chouinard, who's been Delaney's mentor since his sophomore year and the "only reason I got into wrestling. He's been the mastermind behind it all. He's like the Yoda of wrestling."

And then there's Bill Staufer, an assistant wrestling coach in Michigan who Delaney credits as having "brought my whole game level up three or four times" this year.

But while Delaney might be a gracious protégé and pupil, there's no denying the 2007 Daily News Wrestler of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year has used all his physical and mental tools to become the accomplished performer on the mat that he is, and it's landed him at The Citadel, a Division I college in South Carolina where Delaney has signed.

"He's a hard worker who knows what he wants in life," South Walton coach Carey Nick said. "His goal was to earn a college scholarship, and he did that.

"Probably the best word to describe Odie is perseverance. No matter what the odds, he's going to persevere to achieve his goals."

In his decorated junior year, Delaney built a 43-2 record and captured the Class 1A state title at 189 pounds.

This year, Delaney transferred to a high school in Michigan, a wrestling hotbed, to improve his exposure and chances for a high-level college scholarship. Unfortunately, complications arose and his eligibility was denied. After arriving back at South Walton, he learned his season would be over before he could gain eligibility.

Still, Delaney actually feels like "it turned out for the best." After practicing in Michigan, he became a brick wall to Nick, who used to be able to move him around.

When Delaney returned competitively to the mat, he stunningly claimed fifth place at a national tournament in Virginia Beach at 215 pounds. The sting of missing his senior year started dissipating.

"It was disappointing until I took fifth in the country, and then I kind of forgot about it," Delaney said. "I wasn't even mentioned as one of the wrestlers to watch. I surprised a lot of people."

Delaney is hoping to do the same thing at The Citadel. He said what sold him on the program was his time with teammates on his official visit.

"I liked them a lot, and it seemed like a place I could fit in very well," he said.