After setting the expectations high for the season, the Westside wrestling team has reached the culmination of their hard work, the state championships. This year, Westside will be sending three wrestlers: sophomore Mickey Wilson in 152 weight and juniors Darlondo Hill and Kobee Brewer in 170 and heavy weights respectively. Head coach Michael Jernigan wanted to send more, but a tough district halted this goal.

“All year our goal was to get seven, which we knew was going to be tough, but you have to set high goals,” Jernigan said. “We got our three and we had chances to get five. […] It was tough but, we’ve got our three.”

Now, the state team has prepared and ready to take their shot at a state medal. Starting with Wilson, the road was tough. Wilson began wrestling last year on varsity, not getting many wins, but plenty of experience according to Jernigan.

This year, Wilson had over 30 matches leading into districts. There, he started out with a tight win in the first round, then lost to a Grand Island wrestler in the next. From there he pulled together a string of wins, including a rematch from the first round to pull out a third place finish at districts. The key to win comes from his strength and mental toughness.

“He’s a strong kid, so he can get away with some things where he’ll get into some awkward positions, but he can utilize his strength,” Jernigan. “He’s very coachable, listens. Wrestling is the only sport he does, so he’s fully invested in it.”

When it comes to Brewer, he possesses the most interesting story of the three wrestlers. Brewer didn’t start wrestling until last year after Jernigan and assistant coach Trent Goodman approached him after football season. The main concern was to help bring Brewer’s weight down, but the improvement he’s made is incredibly noticeable to himself and Jernigan. He started out last year just practicing, then finally made weight to take the heavyweight spot at districts.

So far, Brewer has wrestled 44 matches this year, which is unheard of for a heavyweight wrestler. After a slow start at the beginning, Brewer turned it on later in the season to get a seeding at districts. From there, he upset the number two seed in the district and kept winning, but ultimately fell in the finals to get second place and a spot at state. After a full season with Brewer, Jernigan sees many strengths in the new wrestler.

“The kid’s in tremendous shape,” Jernigan said. “[…] One time he did three overtime periods and at the end of the second one I yelled something in-between a break and he had his mouth completely shut and was breathing through his nose. I was like ‘oh my god, this kid’s in shape’.”

The last of the bunch is also the most experienced. Hill medaled last year with a fourth place finish, basically coming out of nowhere. Not many people knew about him, so he was able to strike swiftly at the state meet. After the spotlight of last year, though, Hill will have a tougher road ahead of him.

With the number one seed on his side of the bracket, he will more than likely have a tough match in the semi-finals to reach the championship round. Yet, as we know from talking with him earlier in the year, Hill is ready to face the challenge. One element aiding Hill is that he’s wrestling at 170 weight for the first time this year, so his competition hasn’t faced him yet and won’t have experience to take him down. However, Hill has more than surprise on his side.

“Darlondo does such a great job that he can get down in matches, but the first time you make a mistake he’s gonna make you pay for it,” Jernigan said. “[…] It just takes that one bad shot or an elbow sticking out and he’s going to catch you and put you on your back and embarrass you.”

To prep for the state tournament, Jernigan had the wrestlers doing drill work and live matches all week. Usually coaches taper off before state, but Jernigan wants to ensure his team is physically ready for the matches. All that’s left for the wrestlers is to go to the tournament and wrestle until they are eliminated, or eliminate everyone. Good luck Warriors!