Freedom Wrestling Academy ends freestyle season in Tacoma Dome
<strong>Back Row Left to right:</strong> Hunter Cruz, Dalman Vasquez <strong>Middle Row left to right:</strong> Ethan Sepelveda, Luis Ramos, Karson Voss, Gabe Medina, Christien Knopp, Everett Ashley and Kaydrean Cervantes <strong>Bottom Row left to right:</strong> Cody Byers, Cael Castro, Isaiah Medina, Eli Sepulveda, Saulito Salinas, Ryder Jankey, Samuel Janke, Xavier Salinas, Gavin Longwill <strong>Coaches:</strong> Matt Janke and Mark Janke <strong>Not in the picture:</strong> Carson Jankey and Cyrus Knoll
Freedom Wrestling Academy's folkstyle season has come to an end. The final tournament of the season ended at the Folkstyle State Tournament in the Tacoma Dome.
The Academy made the journey to the dome with 16 wrestlers all attempting to bring home a championship. The dome floor was covered with 24 wrestling mats, and after the first whistle was blown, it was nonstop action. 1,800 wrestlers started the tournament, coming from all over the state. It was an awesome experience for all the wrestlers to participate in this high caliber of a tournament. Most wrestlers don't wrestle in the Tacoma Dome until they are in high school.
Each weekend for two months prior to the state tournament, our Academy would head down the road to a tournament. For some of our wrestlers, this was their first year of wrestling; others have been wrestling for a few years. All it took was our first few practices and a tournament, and the Academy came together, not only as a team, but also as a family. Our older wrestlers took the younger wrestlers under their wings and showed them how it's done right. Some of our wrestlers started the tournament with the start of the flu bug; others started with nerves, and others were anxious to just get their first match under their belt. It didn't matter how they started because they all wrestled tough.
All of the coaches are very proud of each and every wrestler, not only for their performance at state, but for the entire season. Not making the tournament due to illness or injury were Carson Janke and Cyrus Knoll. Freedom Wrestling Academy wrestlers who competed were Kaydrean Cervantes, Hunter Cruz, Christien Knopp, Gabriel Medina, Luis Ramos, Saulito Salinas, Xavier Salinas, Eli Sepulveda, Ethan Sepulveda, Karson Voss, Cody Byers and Gavin Longwill.
Placing third at state was first-year wrestler Samuel Janke. His dad's records might have to take a back seat when Sam hits the high school and college ranks. Placing second at state was Isaiah Medina. Isaiah had 35 wrestlers in his bracket. After wrestling eight matches, he came away with a hard-earned second place.
Standing high and on top of the podium placing first were Daimen Vasquez, Cael Castro and Everett Ashley. Damien wrestled with authority and never slowed down. Cael Castro is the Academy's youngest champion this year, nearly celebrating his sixth birthday at the state tournament. Cael wrestled his heart out. Everett is our third state champion, ending an awesome season. Everett secured his fourth consecutive State USA title. He finished the season with a perfect record, 27 wins and 0 losses, and won all 10 of his USA league tournaments this season.
After a short break, Freedom Wrestling Academy will enter the Lil Guys wrestling season which consists of pre-registered tournaments for a month and a half. Then, the freedom wrestlers will end the year by wrestling freestyle.