On February 19, 20 and 21, three members of the SHS Boys’ Wrestling team competed in the State Championship. Senior Sam Johnson, Senior Calhoun Hill and Sophomore Jake Johnson were the qualifying members of the team this year. 

To compete in State competitions, each wrestler has to place in the top four at Regionals. Johnson placed first, Hill third, and Johnson third at Regionals this year. However, training for State begins long before Regionals. “Preparation for the tournament looks like any week preparing for a tournament. Wrestlers have about 2 hours of practice Monday through Friday, when not competing,” Ben Sanchez, SHS Wrestling Coach, said. During their daily practice, members of the team learn new moves and drill them, condition for competing and live-wrestle with others on the team. 

At State, wrestlers arrive at the arena three hours before competition starts. Sanchez said, “Approximately 2 hours before competition starts, the wrestlers weigh in.” After weigh-ins, the team eats breakfast and warms up on the mats as a group. Then, they await their matches. The wrestlers tend to warm up individually half an hour before their own matches as well. 

Every wrestler will make it to the second day of competing, but only the top eight make it to the last day. This year, the event took place at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. “It is such a large venue, the pressure is immense. We tend to see some unexpected upsets due to the pressure affecting a wrestlers level of competition. There is a buzz of energy in the air throughout the entire tournament,” Sanchez stated.

All three SHS wrestlers at State this year placed within the top ten of their divisions. Johnson took home the medal as a repeated State Champion in first place for his weight class, while Hill placed in the top eight. Johnson took home his first State medal in fifth place for his weight class.