State Wrestling - Goals Achieved!

Immediately after state basketball, Gracie and Nick went to Arkansas for some softball, while Owen and I went shopping to find running shoes for track, back in Missouri.  I watched Aces play on gamechanger from afar.  Next up was MO USA State Wrestling... but not before a little stomach bug for Owen 5 days prior.  Owen really cannot catch a break.  He was throwing up early Monday morning, so missed school and practice that evening for both wrestling and track.  I came home to check on him mid afternoon and he said he had thrown up 6 times.  UGH. He didn't even have that much to throw up. Luckily that was short lived and he felt fine by the next day, minus a couple more pounds.  He had no issues with making weight this week. I guess everything happens for a reason???

One more wrestling practice and 3 more track practices and then we head to Kansas City for weigh-ins on Friday night.  We left Gracie with Grandma and Grandpa so they could take her to solo/small ensemble contest Saturday in Osage Beach.  Then they joined us the following day.  We made it with plenty of time to spare for weigh-ins and Owen was a whopping 122.2 pounds.  He was pretty far underweight and starving by the time he got his pizza at Minsky's.  After dinner, it was a pretty uneventful night.  We saw Annie, River, and Kaia at the hotel and hung out in the room for awhile before going to bed.  It was an early start the following morning with breakfast at McDonalds and warm ups at 7:30am.

Nick and Owen getting ready to go.

Here are the 12U boys who made it to STATE

There were 16 from CWC on the state team this year and 8 of them placed in the top 6.

Team Picture at the end of January

There are so many kids in this program!

On the road again heading out for the weekend.

We dropped Ruby off at the kennel, and Gracie off with the grandparents.

CHAOS.  This is right before the parade of state athletes.  The line to get into the arena on Saturday morning was ridiculous, as were many other things about how this tournament was run.  I do hope there are changes in the future.  I waited in line for food for three hours and they ran out several times of both food and water.  It's kind of crazy that they do not let the athletes bring anything in, when they are not prepared to accommodate this many people

Here is the CWC team.

They look like they are having a lot of fun!

We were so happy that Wearmouths were able to come!  So much fun to have the cousins there!

During Owen's first match.  This is my favorite picture of him over the weekend - the facial expression explains it all.  He worked pretty hard to do what he did this year.

First win of the tournament

Smiles after a W.

Next win - this one was a little more intense.  First I was afraid Owen was going to get pinned in the first after getting put on his back, but just ended up spotting the other kid 5 points. Then I was afraid the other kid was not going to continue after Owen threw him on his head, but just gave him one more penalty point.  Owen ended up coming back and winning 11-6.  

Illegal move, but this will be useful if he does freestyle.

Getting ready for the third match of the day.

Karma - Owen ended up getting thrown on his head in this match - same illegal move that he just completed.  The trainer is checking him out to make sure he's ok to continue.  Owen ended up losing this one 13-4.  The other kid spotted 3 points from illegal moves, so Owen didn't have a lot of offense, but still good enough to compete in the consolation semis the next morning.

After completion of the first day, we met my parents and Gracie back at the hotel.  The kids went swimming for awhile and we ordered Mexican food.  Dad and Nick went to pick it up from the restaurant a couple blocks away and we ate in the lobby together.  It was a fun night.  Owen was asleep by 9:30pm - he was exhausted and we had another early morning ahead of us.

 Day 2- getting ready.

I love that he is wearing Bomber Wrestling shorts from the Miller family!

He doesn't seem impressed with getting his picture taken, though.

Day 2 consisted of Consolation semi-finals and then medal matches for 3rd and 5th place, followed by the Championship matches, and finally awards.  It was another really long day.  Owen needed to win his first match to have a shot at 3rd.  A loss meant going for 5th.  He had already reached his goal of getting on the podium at state again this year, but lost the shot at a championship.  Next best thing... 3rd place.  I had no idea how this day was going to go.

Consolation semi- He pinned his opponent in 59 seconds; just fast enough to get it in the first period.

High 5 from his dad after that match!

Opportunity for 3rd place!

The 3rd place match was really good.  After the first period, it was still 0-0.  Owen almost had a takedown, but ran out of time.  The next period Owen started on top and was immediately able to get back points with a cradle, then did it again and got the pin! What a way to finish 12U!

Owen after his last match

Flexin'

A little blurry, but way to go Owen!

Love these kids watching their teammates!

Fun times.

I got a moment with our little man!

He made his mom happy.

Owen on the podium!

2023 

Owen (12U 125#) with Bryce (14U 150#)

Compare to last year at regionals

2022

Bryce (12U 135#) Owen (12U 120#)

Both have grown a bit - they have one more year at CWC together.

These two are great together. Bryce is a beast, but Owen might eventually be bigger than him. Same grade, but almost one year age difference.  Owen looks forward to practices together, even though Bryce still beats on him.  There is even more weight difference this year.

Owen's disappointment after last year must have fueled him for a better outcome this year.  He was so bummed about not making it to state last year, and at the beginning of club season, we told him that he is at the top of his age group this year, and this is the time to get it done.  It will be a lot harder next year being a really young 14U and he won't have the opportunity to be at the top again after that.  He will be in high school...crazy.  After school season, Owen was 133 pounds and a little indifferent about putting the work in to get in shape, get his weight down, and compete.  He had not been wrestling as aggressively and confidently as a couple years ago, and I have no idea why.  Throughout the last couple months it was like he transformed into a competitive wrestler again.  I don't know what happened, but each week he was down a pound or two and was at 125lbs by the meet prior to districts.  He eventually was down to 122, and had lost over 10 pounds since Christmas.  At the end of the season he looked quicker, more confident, and more athletic than he has since 10U.  He was asking me to put his lunches together for school and we kept only healthy food in the house for about 2 months (that was difficult for me, too).  We treated him with a good breakfast/dinner (depending on the tournament) after weigh-ins and ice cream after meets, then it was back to maintaining again throughout the week.  Dropping down a weight class was probably the best choice he made.  The kids at 130lb were just that much taller and and more developed than Owen.  He probably could've gone down even more, which is crazy to think about.  He wrestled at 120 lbs last year, but was about 3 or 4 inches shorter.  Good things have happened in the last 2 months and he has already asked to do freestyle in April, when he is not competing in track/field.  They seem to want to make him a thrower.  Go figure.

Another page is turning and we carry on to the next chapter.  April will be full of track meets, practices, school things and a little softball sprinkled in.  Before we know it, the end of the school year will be here.  After our short vacation in Florida, we should have about a month of not traveling!  The lone softball tournament that we have scheduled in April is in Columbia, so no hotels in the near future! March has been a little chaotic with travel for both kids.  Long road trips to Rolla, Bolivar, Springfield, and overnight stays for Owen in Kansas City for two weekends, Springfield for Gracie with state basketball, then Bentonville, Arkansas for softball. AHHHH!  I'm ready for our family to be home for awhile in April, but what a fun March this has been!

We will head to Tampa tomorrow for a much needed, short vacation.  I cannot wait to be in the warm sun!!!!  We are all so excited.