The story of Mitch Clark is one of perseverance, the rise of a self-described "skinny guy" to national champion.

The former Canton high school wrestler said as much in his book, "Make It Happen," an autobiography that seeks to inspire others while telling Clark's tale: the disappointment of failing to win a state title followed by a national high school championship and then an NCAA Division I crown at Ohio State.

Clark finished his collegiate career on top of the wrestling world with an 18-0 first-period technical fall in the 177-pound championship match against West Virginia's Vertus Jones, a feat that remains the fastest technical fall in NCAA championship history. He went 39-1 during his senior year in 1998 — a winning percentage fourth all-time at Ohio State — and 77-6 in his final two seasons. He also finished second in the NCAAs during his junior year and was a two-time Big Ten Conference champion.

Overall, he compiled a 119-30 record at Ohio State. He is 10th all-time in victories and third all-time in falls (45) at the university. His success came in part through his unusual wrestling style. At 6-foot-3, Clark was taller than most in his weight class, and he conquered opponents by wrestling from the mat, not from his feet.

An All-American for the Buckeyes, Clark went on to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials, losing both bouts, after taking sixth in the U.S. National Freestyle Tournament in 2000.

Clark placed second twice in the state tournament and completed his high school career as Section 10's all-time winningest wrestler. But colleges flocked to Clark only after he claimed the 171-pound class in the National High School Wrestling Championships in April 1993.

Clark's father, John, coaches the Canton high school team and was a longtime coach for the St. Lawrence University team. Clark's brother, John, also wrestled at Ohio State and won two high school state titles. Brother Charlie Clark was a National Prep champion and wrestled for the Buckeyes.

Clark now lives in Ithaca with his wife, who is expectant with their first child, a son. Clark works as a salesman for Advantage Sports, a company that provides fitness machines to schools and businesses. He is also a part-time wrestling coach at Cornell University and operates a series of camps and clinics.

To read about previous selections to the Times' list of the North Country's Greatest 100 Athletes of All-Time, log on to www.watertowndailytimes.com