Wrestling State championship is the one of the biggest accomplishments for a high school wrestler. These next following days, four FHN wrestlers have qualified to have chance too obtain the gold. These wrestlers consist of Tyler Smith, Jeremiah Reed, Brendan Hachtel, and Sam Ritchie. They are all very nervous, but District champ, Smith, is confident about facing  his competitors.

“I feel like I can compete with the rest of them,” Smith said. “We all have very similar records and I have beaten some of them as well.”

Ritchie is a freshman this year, and comes from a long line of state qualifiers. Being a freshman wrestler in an all grade weight class has its pressures, so it takes a lot of time and effort to become successful.

“My dad has been correcting me on everything I do since the beginning of the season, and I drill hard at practice for a in match experience,” Ritchie said.

Qualifying for State was a huge accomplishment for Reed, but he was concussed at Districts and his doctor did not release him for State.

“I feel really good about how far I made it, even though I can’t wrestle for the medal, I feel great qualifying for the first time,” Reed said.

As they make their way towards the most trying part of the season for them, they have to be sure to keep up their healthy routines. They have to make sure they eat healthy, have a good mind set of what they’re going to do on the mat, and reassess what moves work for them.

“My favorite take down is the head-outside single leg,” Ritchie said. “I score with it most and its helped me produce my 28-17 record.”

State is defined by how much you work as well as how much confidence you have with yourself.

“They only way your going to place in state is when you have the mind set of this is might be your last match of the season, go all out,” Hachtel said.