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Many high school athletes dream of standing on a podium and being decorated with a gold medal, friends and family watching as they win a state championship with their teammates. But few ever reach that pinnacle.
As 13 Emporia High School (Kansas) wrestlers think about the gallons of sweat they've worked off, the ridiculous diets they've tried in an effort to make weight, and the so-called "Black Tuesdays" they've endured, the grapplers lived that dream. They won the Class 5A state wrestling championship Feb. 28, the first time since 2000.
A winning tradition
In 1961, David Penny became the first wrestler from Emporia High to take part in the state meet. Penny placed third in the 154-pound weight class under coach Charles Gowdy. In 1968, assistant coach Pat Sands took charge of the program, and two years later Tim Essex became the Spartans' first state champion.
Emporia became a front-runner in Kansas wrestling under coach Sands. Emporia won the first Centennial League championship in 1975 and won consecutive titles until 1981. Returning to the top in 1982, Sands started the march that eventually led to 23 consecutive league titles. The streak ended in 2005, and the Spartans didn't win another league title until 2007. Four-time senior champions Justin Rose, 130, and Sal Tovar, 135, helped Emporia capture this year's championship.
"We have lots of pride in winning the Centennial League every year," assistant coach Ryan Karjala said.
Emporia's program prides itself on a sense of toughness along with domination and confidence.
"We don't let them settle. We have a solid tradition and we have the banners hanging on the wall as if the former wrestlers were watching, reminding them what is expected of them," Karjala said.
In 1980, the team earned its first state title. From there, Emporia won state titles in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Greg Buckbee, a member of the 1983 and 1984 championship teams, is the current head coach.
Tuesdays teach toughness
At Emporia, the coaches strive for their athletes to be mentally tough and prepared for any situation. In order to prepare them, "Black Tuesdays" have become a tradition. Once a month on a Tuesday, the varsity wrestlers have to wrestle each person in their weight class throughout practice.
"It's a grind match. It teaches mental toughness," Karjala said. "The kids can't break down on the mat mentally, and they have to get up after being taken down over and over."
Success at the state meet
On Day 1 of the state meet, the team's mission was to create a sizable lead and advance as many wrestlers to the finals as possible. In the first round, the team announced its presence, winning 10 of its 13 matches and leading the field by 11.5 points.
The Spartans' dominance dwindled slightly after they lost three straight quarterfinal matches, but the team fired back, placing seven in the semifinals and winning 2 out of 3 in the consolation bracket. At the end of the day, senior Tovar (135), senior Tavo Dikin (140) and junior heavyweight Lorenzo Serna muscled into the finals.
Serna and Tovar left on top -- Serna for the season, and Tovar forever.
In the final match of his career, Tovar set a new record for future Emporia wrestlers to chase -- 132 career wins, surpassing the previous record of 131 wins by Dusty Spaulding, 1997-2000.
"It's a good feeling following all the great people to come through, and for me to have the most is amazing," Tovar said of his career wins record.
For Serna, this season held many firsts. It was his first state appearance, and he won the league, regional and state championships for the first time.
"It was special because I had won and so had the team. I got to share it with my wrestling family," Serna said about winning the state title.
With seven seniors graduating, Emporia coaches aren't panicking. Neither is Serna, who knows his work isn't over yet.
"I'm going to have to step up," he said. "I'll have to be more motivational and help the team know we can do it. I want to make history. There's never been a two-time heavyweight champion at Emporia High."
Hilary Heinrich is a senior journalism student at Emporia High School.
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