On May 10, Linganore senior Joel Hopkins committed to wrestle at the Division 2 level at Frostburg State University (FSU).

 After winning states this past season with his team, Hopkins knew after his last match that his wrestling career was not ending there nor did he let it.

“Immediately after that [ individual state championship] match, I was like in my mind. And I don’t know what it was, but I knew I wasn’t done with wrestling, and I can’t stop here and I can’t let this be the end,” Hopkins said. 

Later, when visiting Frostburg and hearing about their new wrestling program, he knew he could not let the opportunity pass and accepted the offer he was given to wrestle for the Bobcats.

Hopkins had been preparing to be the wrestler he is today for a long time, beginning in middle school when the coach of Linganore’s wrestling team, Ben Arneson, took him to high school-level camps to compete and practice with the older students to help him develop and grow. 

Hopkins finished his high school wrestling career with a winning record, 67-14, and many visits to the championships at county, regional and state levels.

“I know Joel will work very hard, and I can’t wait to hear all about his success on and off the mat as a Bobcat,” Arneson said. 

Off the mat, Hopkins plans to major in education and did ponder the opportunity to be a dual sport athlete and to play football at Frostburg as was his original plan. But after the football coach at Frostburg introduced him to the wrestling coach, his decision to attend FSU as a one sport athlete was final. 

His decision to pursue college athletics was supported from the very beginning by his coaches who pushed him to be better and his family which motivated and helped him get to where he is today.

He reported that he could not be more grateful for his opportunities as a wrestler and his parents’ support like “getting [him] to practices when [he] was younger … and coming to [his] matches.” 

“I feel like I have had a lot of support,” Hopkins said. 

Hopkins will be graduating May 22 and attending Frostburg State University in the fall where he will hopefully continue to be successful at the collegiate level both in sports and academics.

Although he will be missed, his friends, family and coaches are excited to see and hear about his upcoming endeavors.