When the ref raised his hand, the moment hardly felt real. “Unreal,” he said, trying to take it all in. After years of year-round training, the state title at 126lbs was finally his.
In the week leading up to the tournament, preparation was everything. In the wrestling room, his coaches broke down the competition, studying opponents and refining strategy. “They give me information on the competition, and we work on that all week,” the junior said. “They tell me how to approach the match, and I stay aggressive the whole time.” That mindset became the foundation of his incredible success on the mat.
One move, in particular, played a key role in his championship run. His best move is the single leg, a technique that consistently earns him takedowns and control early in matches. His favorite move, however, is the tilt. “It gets me a lot of points,” he explained, though he admits it’s harder to pull off against higher-level competitors.
Behind the victory is a commitment that stretches far beyond a single season. For the past five years, wrestling has been his focus year-round. Even after winning state, the work isn’t stopping. “I’m going to practice this week, even though I just won state,” he said. Looking ahead, he hopes wrestling will take him to the next level; “I’m looking to go to college for this.”
The road to the championship wasn’t easy. At regionals, he staged a comeback after trailing earlier in the match (his opponent was up 9-3), before ultimately going to overtime. In the semi-state round, he faced the same opponent who had previously been up by four points, but he battled back, repeatedly putting him on his back and securing the win. Those tough matches helped prove to him that he belonged at the top.
The victory meant just as much to his supporters as it did to him. His family packed the stands—uncles, cousins, close relatives, and family friends—all cheering him on. “No matter what, I feel like I can’t let them down,” he said. “I can only make them proud.” Seeing their reaction after the win was one of the best parts. “I love seeing them get super happy. They all freak out.”
The achievement was especially meaningful considering where he was a year ago. Last season, he didn’t qualify for state. This year, his goal was simply to place in the top five. Instead, he went far beyond that expectation.
He credits much of that progress to the guidance of his coaches. Coach Chavez worked with him extensively during the offseason, putting in countless hours of training. During the high school season, Coach Hawkins pushed him to another level. “Bringing in Coach Chavez and Coach Hawkins made the biggest difference,” he said. “Hawkins really pushed me while I was in the room.”
Even his routines on competition days play a role in his mindset. He wears the same clothes to maintain a sense of consistency, though he occasionally switches up the singlet.
Now, with the season behind him, one of the biggest reliefs is not having to cut weight. Still, the focus remains on improving. A new weight class means new challenges and tougher competition. “I won state, but now it’s time to get some good wins and beat these new guys,” he said.
With college wrestling on the horizon, his goal is simple: keep getting better. And if he finds himself back on top again next season, the feeling might be even sweeter the second time around.
