Final Trip to State with CWC
What a fun ride youth wrestling has been. Owen had his first wrestling tournament with this team just over 7 years ago when we went to Blair Oaks, then 6U state. There are some things about it that I will not miss (see previous posts about some of the tournaments), but Owen has loved competing and wants to keep working hard to get better. He has developed the discipline that it takes to compete at high levels and is motivated on his own to put the work in (most of the time). He has developed some great friendships that I hope will continue through high school, even though they do not go to the same schools. There are three in particular that have been pretty good buddies for the past 5 years; since Owen resumed wrestling at CWC. We have been surrounded by amazing people who want to help kids learn to love the sport and have fun doing it.
Here are the 14U kids who made it to state
All of our 8U and up who made it this year
Eighteen this year. I think there were fewer last year, but I could be wrong
.
Last CWC practice
Lots of support through the past 8 years.
After getting through districts, there were only 2 more practices at CWC before state competition and the last one had to be held at Hickman High School due to state basketball, which was in Columbia this year. The week passed very quickly.
Day 1
3/9/2024
We left for Springfield Friday afternoon, checked into the hotel and went to the arena to get Owen weighed in. He was over three pounds underweight. Go figure. He didn't eat much that day, I think mostly due to being anxious, and he went for a 2 mile run before we left. I think he was about 3 over by the following day after eating at Lambert's that night. My parents, Annie, and her kids were there waiting for us to join them! We returned to the hotel around 9pm I think, and didn't stay up too much later. It was an early Saturday morning wake up call.
Opening Ceremony at the Arena
On the right side are the 8u kids. On the left are 14U...there are so many, or they are just that much larger people than the 8U kids.
Coming out of the tunnel with the 14U group...the 8U had our CWC banner.
Getting ready to warm up
Nick getting other kids ready to compete.
Yes, I caught you Bryce.
Bryce and Owen warming up.
It begins
The whole process for state from start to finish was so much better this year at this venue. They seemed more prepared and they also separated age groups so they didn't have to serve so many people at one time. We got right into the facility and the lines for food weren't too long. Opening ceremonies was a little different, and harder to see from different areas, but overall, it was a good experience. We arrived and there was plenty of time and space for kids to warm up and things started on time. Owen's first match started within about 30 minutes, which was reasonable and everything flowed pretty smoothly. Owen had a first round bye and then finished his first match pretty quickly, moving on to quarter finals.
First match was a win.
Check ✅
One down 2 more to go.
Quarterfinals
About had another heart attack.
Here are a few pics...it was a tough match and Owen's face took a beating.
Owen was winning 3-0 with 9 seconds left. 9 seconds.
He was taken down to his back at the restart and luckily flipped before any back points were awarded.
It was terrifying.
Ain't no thing, mom.
Pretty happy that he survived and knows he made it to the podium again!
He would wrestle in the semi-finals and for sure medal the following day.
Wow. Two years in a row, this year on the bottom side of 14U, knowing he won't get another shot at it because he will be in high school next year. I don't know if that sank in right then, but it did for his parents. So proud of his work ethic and discipline.
Walking away after his 2nd win.
Semi-Finals
Owen wrestled a kid from St. Louis (Tagle) that he had been beat by at Missouri Nationals earlier this year 7-0. So, we got a rematch and he wrestled so well; tied at 2-2 after regulation end; taking his opponent into OT. Unfortunately Owen didn't come away with the win this time, either, and would not get a chance to wrestle in finals this year. Disappointing, yes, but he did so much better this time against this opponent. There is a lot to be said about getting better every time.
Tagle eventually placed 2nd to the same wrestler who won Missouri Nationals and Owen also lost to at that tournament. Just keep getting better.
It took him awhile to come out after his semi-final match. But finally he did and here he is, icing his face after the last match.
The damage had been done during his 2nd match that day. Mat burn and bruises from being head butted the entire time.
Smile through it.
Love his attitude despite the disappointment. Wrestling is such a roller coaster of emotions. Elated after his second win, knowing he would medal again this year and so proud of him for working hard to have the opportunity, despite being at the bottom of his age group. Not to mention the stress during his second match when he was nearly beat. Fast forward about and hour and seeing/feeling the heartbreak of not getting to the finals after a hard fought overtime match. Wrestling is so draining and just exhausting from every perspective. I have developed a love/hate relationship with it.
Kaia and Gracie here to cheer him on.
After staying for a little bit to help one of his 12U teammates get warmed up, we went back to the hotel to relax, swim, and decide where to eat.
Eating at Lambert's
River loved the throwed rolls!
Kaia and Gracie loved the pink mugs.
Unfortunately they didn't get to keep them.
Mexican dinner after Day 1 of wrestling
Our whole family minus Chad
State Wrestling Day 2
Warming up
BFF
Another great day with his wrestling buddies
These two (Coop and Bryce) both showed up before Owen's morning matches to drill with him. Both made it to finals and didn't have to wrestle until 1:30pm for the championship matches. Owen's consolation semi-final started at 10am and they were all ready to go at 9:15am. Says a lot about their support for teammates.
Waiting for matches
Consolation semi-final
Feeling pretty comfortable in the lead.
Talking it over during a blood time out
Staying on top
Owen won cons semis 6-0, which moved him to the third place match... one more
With his friends after semis.
I don't know why, but I was so nervous and anxious on finals day. I don't remember being that way last year at all. I knew his last match would be a battle, and it was until the third period when Owen dominated. Owen was winning 2-0 going into the third period after Owen scored a reversal in the 2nd. Then his opponent (Sundlie) chose neutral in the third and Owen was able to get a take-down. Long story short, Owen ended with another take-down to Sundlie's back and it was pretty much decided after that. Didn't get the pin, but won with a 9-2 decision.
Cheslea (Bryce's mom) took this picture
Owen is looking right at us.
Right after this pic, Owen looked over in his corner at his friends, stuck out his tongue, and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Let's just say, a lesson was learned in this moment. Very uncharacteristic of Owen, and I'm sure that the adrenaline and excitement got to him. Luckily, Owen had enough of a lead that the point awarded didn't make a difference. I don't think he will do that again. Nevertheless, what a great victory and good match. I am so proud of him.
Another pic from Cheslea.
Her camera takes way better pics than my phone.
Happy after the win
Dad with his kids right after Owen's last match
Taking a pic with the cousins
I love that Annie has brought her kids to support for the last two years.
I think she gets even more nervous than I do.
Hugs from grandma and grandpa
Mike Flanagan has been a huge Owen Britton fan from the start and has always appreciated Nick's help in the wrestling room during practices. I don't know how he does it, but he continues to support and be present in the lives of all of these kids.
Podium pic
The three amigos
Dynamic Duo
4+ years of wrestling together
I'm pretty sure they both went to state in 2021, but I don't have any pics of them together.
2022
Owen did not make it to state this year-younger side of 12u
Bryce 12u 135#
Owen 12u 120#
2023
Bryce 2nd 14u 150#
Owen 3rd 12u 125#
2024
Bryce 1st 14u 175#
Owen 3rd 14u 140#
Maybe Owen will eventually catch him, although I hope they never have to wrestle each other in high school. The next four years will be fun to watch as they both continue to get better.
Kids with their dads
My heart is full
Very bittersweet...wide range of emotions here.
Moment captured by Cheslea Newham
I have the most awesome job
My other "kids"
Then I came back to work on Monday and my first appointment of the day gives me this...😭 While we were in Springfield for Owen's finals day, Mizzou gymnastics had their senior day back in Columbia that I didn't attend. I had also brought her and another senior gymnast flowers, so the tears were rolling again for her. I waited until after she left to read the card she brought for me. Maya is graduating this spring after 4 years of being a tiger and visiting me at least once every week, most of the time on her own accord. I have a total of 7 student-athletes who graduate this year between tennis, gymnastics and track, which is more than I have ever had. The track athlete is the lone remainder from when I had quite a few. She is getting her masters after 6 years here. They are leaving a big hole and empty space in my office. I am so blessed with all the amazing students I have gotten to work with. It has been awhile since I have seen a student all the way through, 4+ years, and I have 3 this spring who fit that criteria. One more week until spring break. Owen and Nick will be enjoying more of Kansas City at NCAA National Wrestling! Gracie will be going to Florida with a friend, and the rest of us will be taking it easy at home.
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