The boys’ wrestling team claimed their second consecutive title of 4A district champions with 448 points for Lakeland High School on Feb. 16. The girls’ wrestling team took seventh with only four participants. They were able to put up 56 points on Feb. 15.
The Lakeland Hawks are taking 17 wrestlers down to state on Feb. 23
“I think I went into districts with the expectation of winning. I think we have the better team, and it should be the same next year and the year after,” Lakeland head coach William Edublute said.
Lakeland had nine champions and five-second places and will be sending 15 boys to state.
The girls’ team performed well and is taking 50 percent of its members to state.
Teagan Patrick won her first match in double overtime, putting her in the finals against Joely Slyter. She placed second and will be wrestling at 114 pounds at state.
Annika Thompson placed first, winning both her matches by pin in the first period. She is wrestling at 165 pounds at state and is the second seed in her bracket.
Caleb Adams and Zach Teal met in the final match at 98 pounds. They have been wrestling against each other all season in practice and tournaments. Zach Teal has the varsity spot at LHS, but Caleb Adams did not give up and ended up winning 3-2.
“Before the match, I was thinking about how I was going to get a takedown,” Adams said. “Even though he is my teammate, I was pretty happy to beat him and go to state.”
Even though Zach Teal got second place, he was picked to go to state as a wildcard. Kade Knopp had two matches at 106 pounds. He was able to pin both the LHS and SHS wrestlers in the first period and will be wrestling at state.
Carson Leonard won his only match at 113 pounds by decision 6-1. He is now going into state as the number-one seed in his bracket.
Duke Williamson and Jaron Knopp have had to wrestle against each other at two tournaments. Jaron Knopp usually has the upper hand. However, Duke Williamson overcame the adversity at districts and was able to win by a takedown in overtime and will be going to state for his senior year.
“This was my first district title ever,” Williamson said. “I have worked my tail off to get here.”
Jaron Knopp was selected as a wild card and will also be going to state at 120.
Griffen Tamangi made it into the final round at 126 pounds but, unfortunately, got pinned in the second period. He was chosen as another wild card and will be going to state.
“I think I did well at districts. I think I could have exploded more off the bottom,” Tamangi said. “I did not think I was going to get a wild card. I was pretty excited when I found out I got one.”
Cole Cooper and Justin Baxter wrestled at 132 pounds. Cole Cooper won with a pin in his first match and won with a decision (4-2) in his second match, putting him in the finals. He was able to place second.
Justin Baxter won his first match with a pin. He went up against Ashlei Hawkins in the semi-finals and got beaten by an 11-5 decision, putting him in the consultation bracket. He won his next match 12-6 by decision. He ended up being pinned in his next match by Jason Swam and placed fourth overall.
Justin Baxter and Cole Cooper both got picked by wild cards and will be wrestling 132 at state.
“I think I did pretty well at state for fourth. I am going to continue working hard and come back for state,” Baxter said. “I was pretty shocked when I got the wild card. I did not expect it.”
Kros O’Brien, Austin Howell and Thayer Sabatke all won both of their matches by a pin, and they will all be wrestling at state. Kros O’Brien at 145 pounds, Austin Howell at 152 pounds, and Thayer Sabatke at 160 pounds.
“I did the best I could do. I was happy about how the finals went. I got my first tech,” O’Brien said. “I would say some of our other wrestlers could have done better, but overall, they just need to keep putting in work and get better. It feels pretty good going into state after winning districts. It also means I will be seated fairly high.”
Dylan Scott and Ernie Steel wrestled at 220 pounds. Scott beat Steel in their first match and went on to take first place by another pin. Steel kept on wrestling and placed third. Ernie ended up getting a wild card.
“I got two pins, which gave the team twelve points. That felt pretty good,” Scott said. “This was my second district champion, and I am going into state as the second seed. It feels pretty good.”
Scott and Steel are both wrestling at 220 pounds at state.
Carter Vanek won his only match at 285 pounds by a pin in the second period and will be wrestling at state.
