Four boy wrestlers earned the chance to compete at the state tournament in February and senior Nick Bagley ended his senior season with state hardware.
Freshmen Josh Harvath, Jayce Estes, sophomore Drake Murrell, and Bagley all qualified for state at their district meet. Harvath took fourth, Murrell took second, Bagley and Estes both took first.
Bagley’s high school career ended in a state third place after four years of making it to the state tournament.
“There isn’t a better feeling, knowing all the blood sweat and tears have paid off and that everything I had done in the past three years all lead up to that moment. I felt on top of the world,” Bagley said.
Wrestlers had improved from the beginning of season to make it to state.
“Improvement for the State series happens through their preparation throughout the season. Everything the kids do year around to become better competitors comes to fruition during the state series,” Coach Justin Wisdom said.
The coaches helped improve the wrestlers to be prepared for the district and state competition and the wrestlers were eager to take their advice.
“My coaches 100%, all the time they are helping and teaching me something,” sophomore Drake Murrell said.
The coaches also helped push them to separate from other competition.
“Coaches definitely helped me push myself and helped me separate myself away from all my other competition and helped me get to that next level,” Bagley said “It goes by fast; buy into the program, trust the program. And great things will happen,”
Freshman Jayce Estes learned a lot along his journey to state.
“I had to not make so many mistakes,” Estes said.
Some senior wrestlers ended their season during district tournament on February 17 and 18.
“At my last meet, the first match I fell behind fast and last period I caught up, but it wasn’t enough. The second match, I got in a bad position and got pinned,” senior Coehen Walton said.
Wrestling has taught many things to the seniors
“It taught me discipline and that hard work and dedication takes time and not everything will be handed to you; you have to work for it,” Walton said.