Finishing off their season strong, with the most athletes to ever qualify for state in the history of the school’s program, the wrestling team took names at the State UIL Competition.
Challenging the other region athletes on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, wrestlers Chalimarys Rodgriguez, Chalimar Rodriguez, Jude Miller, Bianca Rosales, Daya Powell, Will Caillet, Tommy Dalzell and Nathan Grimes all showed determination throughout their matches, with Nathan Grimes taking third place and Bianca Rosales taking second as state runner-up.
Constantly pushed to be one percent better each day, teammates like senior Nathan Grimes have used their training to perfect their mentality, performing better than any Timber Creek Wrestling Program that he has previously ever been in.
“I did pretty great other than my second match,” said Grimes. “To get third I had to beat someone [who] I had lost to before…he was the only guy that has beaten me by more than one point, [winning] by two. The advantage I had in the consolation finals was that I was much more conditioned. I knew if I could get ahead or keep it close, I’d definitely win in the end.”
Losing 5-4 during his second match, Grimes battled on, beating several more high performing athletes, and moving on towards his third place match. Having focused on his conditioning, Grimes was able to pin down the competition more easily, mentally determined to beat out the competition.
“The advantage I had in the consolation finals (3rd Place match), was that I was much more conditioned,” Grimes commented. “He has never beaten anyone as good as me, and though he beat me before, I knew even then he never would again. I think I really found what my strengths are, and that’ll be useful at the next level.”
With all four seasons behind him, the senior has watched the entire team develop throughout his high school career. Having had three different head coaches through the years, Nathan Grimes has seen all types of leadership, regarding the 2017-2018 season performance at a higher perspective than any other wrestling team.
“I think this team is heading in an even better direction, if leaders present themselves within the off-season,” said Grimes. “We performed better than any Timber Creek Wrestling era I’ve been in. I think I really found what my strengths are, and that’ll be useful at the next level. I changed my entire mindset; the goal was the same [to win], but the way to get there completely changed.”