REDFIELD – The banner featuring Redfield wrestling state place winners since 1958 contains some of the most accomplished individuals in state history.

Corbin Schwartz is mentioned twice on that banner with fifth and third place finishes, and now the senior hopes to have his named affixed once more only this time with the words state champion.

The senior enters this weekend’s state tournament with a 42-1 record and is the second seed at 182 pounds. He’s OK not being the top-rated guy in his weight class.

“I was hoping for an undefeated season, but you know, not everything goes as you plan,” Schwartz said. “I think being seeded second in the state is just as good as being seeded first if not better, because there’s more pressure on the guy seeded first to win the tournament.”

The guy that’s seeded first is Isaac Crownover of Bon Homme-Scotland-Avon. Schwartz split two matches with him during the regular season.

Schwartz said he isn’t thinking too much about his only defeat of the season at the hands of Crownover.

“I just kind of need to forget about it,” Schwartz said, “or even use it as fuel to go out and get him this time.”

Wrestling has always been a part of Schwartz’s life. His dad and other relatives wrestled (his uncle Cory was a state champ). He recalled getting started in the sport at a very young age.

“My mom had me go out when I was young,” he said. “I don’t think I really knew what was going on that time. She just had me go out. I’m glad she did.”

Schwartz has been wrestling ever since and has been a staple of the Pheasants program for years. He is one of only three Redfield wrestlers to win a Northeast Conference championship as an eighth-grader (Grady Fey and Dallas Jungwirth are the other two).

Schwartz is not only a part of one the most most decorated programs around, he understands and appreciates the history of what that means.

“Coach (Wade) Schlotter talks a lot about the tradition of wrestling,” Schwartz said. “He fills us in on a lot of the history of it.”

That’s where that banner comes into place with all of the past and present Pheasants state place winners.

“I think it’s a beautiful thing to look at that banner every day to see all the people who competed for Redfield,” Schwartz said. “You look up to those people and you want to be as good as them.”

Schwartz said his current workout partner is Mason Fey, one of the top-rated wrestlers at 160 pounds.

“He has the same goals as I do,” Schwartz said of his senior teammate. “That really helps and we push each other. We’re both competitive.”

Schwartz has his eyes set on a potential state championship. He plans to use a pair of moves that have proven to be effective so far.

“When I’m on my feet, I like to hit an elbow pass to a single leg. That’s really my bread and butter. I learned it back when I was an eighth-grader. I’ve been using it ever since and it’s really worked for me,” Schwartz said. “When I’m on top, I like to use a cross wrist tilt. That’s won a lot of matches for me. It’s won a lot of important matches, too. Those are really my two main moves that I like to use. I have a few other moves in my tool belt.”

One of the best tools in that belt might be Schwartz’s mindset.

He plans to keep a clear head and focus on the task at hand, knowing that there will be challenges each round at the state tourney.

“I just need to go out there and compete and that’s the only thing there is to it,” Schwartz said. “I know that other guys are going to want to go out there and win a state title, too. I just need to have a clear head and go out there and compete and wrestle.”

One thing is for sure, Schwartz will not get outworked out on the mat.

“Corbin’s strength has always been his endurance,” Schlotter said. “He works hard in the practice room and it transfers out on the mat. His goal is to be the 182-pound state champion and he’s put himself in a position to achieve his goal.”

While Schwartz would love to walk off the mat one final time as a state champion, he knows he has already had an opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than himself.

“Win or lose, I know it will be sad, but I think I will be proud of myself for what I’ve done, even if I don’t get that title,” he said. “I think I’ll be happy that was I part of the tradition in Redfield and that I was able to wrestle and got the opportunity to go out there and do that.”

During his time on the Redfield varsity, the Pheasants have won the region title every year, finished third at state twice and took fourth in the state dual tournament.

“I think that’s awesome to be a part of that,” Schwartz said. “My name will be up there on banners for that.”

And now as he prepares to represent the Pheasants for one last time, Schwartz reflected on something his coach has reminded the wrestlers of on more than one occasion.

“Schlotter tells us a lot that you have to leave your mark. A lot of guys up there on that wall have left their mark and now it’s time for you to leave your mark,” Schwartz said of his coach’s message. “I hope that I’ve done everything I can to leave my mark.”