The 160-pound East Rowan senior has flown under the radar this winter, advancing from nowhere to somewhere without creating much of a stir. Only now, with a second- place finish in Saturday’s 3A Midwest Regional to his credit, has he gotten everyone’s attention.

“I came in as the underdog, without any expectations whatsoever,” Freeman said at Mooresville High School, where he captured three of four matches and landed his first gig in the state championship meet. “But I think I surprised some people. Nobody expected anything out of me. I just took the opportunities I got and made the best of them.”

Freeman (28-8) has the opportunity to show his wares next weekend at Charlotte’s Cricket Arena, where he’ll join teammate Hunter Land and West Rowan’s Brandon McCarty in the state meet.

“Trenton’s done well,” said East coach Barry Justus. “He came in strong, worked hard and stayed healthy. He’s set himself up nicely because anything can happen in the state meet.”

Freeman’s journey to the grandest of stages began when he pinned Robinson’s James Sims in 32 seconds Friday night. He returned yesterday and flattened Statesville’s Shae Harrington (1:41) and Mooresville’s Bear Bryant (2:47), earning the right to meet four-time state qualifier Alex Davis of Northwest Cabarrus for the 160 title.

“I wanted to give it all I had, and whatever happened, happens,” Freeman said. “I knew it would be a tough match.”

It was more of a mismatch as Davis (34-0) outpointed him 18-3 and won by technical fall — stopping Freeman for the third time this season. Despite the outcome, Justus found a bright spot.

“Alex is in a whole family of wrestlers,” the coach said. “The kid’s gone to states every year. But say this for Trenton — every time he wrestles Alex, he gets better.”

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Land (32-3) sandwiched a semifinal loss to Statesville’s Jonathan Geisler around four victories and placed third at 172 pounds. He pinned two opponents — including Mooresville’s Patrick Marsh in 29 seconds — earned a tech fall over Brandon Peters of Union Pines and carved out a 9-5 win over Eastern Randolph’s Doug Long, a 2A defending state runner-up.

“It was a tough weight class, one of the toughest in the state,” said Land, who finished second at 160 in last year’s state meet. “There were five or six guys who placed in the state right in this regional.”

The showdown, of course, came against the 6-foot-2 Geisler, a defending 2A state titlist. Land, who split two previous decisions with Geisler, tried to play upstairs and was pinned in 3:38.

“I made two big mistakes that cost me the match,” he said. “Instead of staying low, I played his game and wrestled up top. And when you try to push him, he’s got a good throwing technique. There aren’t many like him.”

Disappointment aside, Land felt positive about the match and his weekend’s effort. “Sometimes it takes a loss to get your head back on straight,” he said. “Sometimes you need it for perspective.”

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Don’t let McCarty’s 23-12 record fool you. The West senior won three of five matches at 142 and qualified for his first state meet.

“Ever since I saw Chris Jackson and Scott Roby go to the states, that’s all I’ve wanted to do,” he smiled after placing fourth. “I just wanted to come out of this tournament with something.”

He secured it by blasting Ragsdale’s Rich Belongia, 14-5, in the consolation semifinals. Later he squandered a 4-2 lead and lost 8-6 to Southwest Randolph’s Dustin Hayes in a match for third place.

“That last match didn’t bother me,” he said. “I was just out there having fun. I was happy because I already knew I was going to the states.”

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