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A great start

Former prep wrestler making a way

Courtesy of Colt Howell

Colt Howell of Bethlehem recieves congratulations after winning the Elite Cage Fighting Championships amateur mixed martial arts lightweight title on June 13 in Charlotte.

By Allen Haynes | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 28, 2009

BETHLEHEM - Colt Howell has found that when you compete in something for an extended period of time, it's hard to give up.

After wrestling since he was in middle school and winning two state titles at Bandys High, Howell has moved into the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cage fighting.

Howell's state titles came during his sophomore season in the 140-pound class and as a senior in the 152-pound class.

Howell now weighs 160-pounds and stands at 5-foot-9.

With only a year of MMA experience under his belt, Howell is already a champion. He defeated Jordan Rinaldi, who was previously unbeaten, to win the Elite Championship Cage Fighting amateur lightweight title on June 13 at the Metrolina Expo Center in Charlotte.

"It felt really good to defeat Rinaldi to win the title," said Howell. "He had never been taken out of the first round and I was able to go all five rounds and win by a unanimous decision."

Howell, who is 20 and spent part of the last two seasons helping with the St. Stephens wrestling program, didn't really have his mind set on the MMA.

"After I started to help with wrestling at St. Stephens, there were a few boys there that kinda played around with mixed martial arts," Howell said. "So I went to the MMA gym with them a few times after practice and ended up liking what I saw."

Since he used to box during his middle school years and had a solid wrestling background, Howell thought he might do well in martial arts.

"I decided to go fight in an actual competition and won," he said. "So I continued to fight a match here and there and just kept winning."

After seven matches, Howell was undefeated. That earned him a shot at the lightweight title.

"I felt like it was the right time to go for a title after being offered several other chances," said Howell, who trains at Elite Combat Systems in Hickory and Ultimate Atheletix in Granite Falls. "Fighting this type of matches has a lot to do with timing and I felt like it was the right time."

Promoters tell Howell it will probably be November before he defends the title.

"They will have several fights set up between now and November that is almost like a tournament," Howell said. "When those fights are over, a clear contender will emerge with the chance to fight me for the title."

Eventually, Howell may turn pro.

"I have already been offered the chance to turn pro, but I want to remain an amateur as long as I can," said Howell. "Once you turn pro, there's no going back to the amateur level and I have other plans."

Those plans include attending Appalachian State in the fall and trying to earn a spot on the wrestling team as a walk-on.

For the past two years, Howell has attended Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and he will enter Appalachian State as a junior transfer student.

"Hopefully I can walk-on, earn a starting position and be a scholarship athlete by second semester," Howell said. "At least that's my goal for now."