Gatewood’s wrestling team performed well at the recent GIAA traditional state championships at Riverwood Preparatory Academy in Gainesville.
Four Mat Gators placed at the state championship meet, as Hunter Pierce, Huck McLaulin, Jackson Hewatt, and Tyler Middleton earned spots on the podium.
“We had a great showing,” said Gatewood head coach Tyler VanDusen, who added he was proud of those who placed.
VanDusen was especially happy for McLaulin, who completed his first season of wrestling. He also noted Pierce’s outing at the state championship meet was impressive.
“Two eighth graders placed,” VanDusen said. “Huck McLaulin finished fourth at 106 pounds in his first year wrestling. Hunter Pierce also placed third at 113 pounds and was our highest finisher.”
VanDusen added that Gatewood’s veteran wrestlers — Hewatt and Middleton — also gave solid performances, showing their hard work paid off through leadership and results.
“Our two most experienced wrestlers showed tremendous leadership, and both finished fourth in their respective weight classes,” VanDusen said.
“Jackson Hewatt, at 138 pounds, came back from a tremendous injury to place fourth in what may have been the deepest, most competitive weight class, and Tyler Middleton closed his career with a fourth-place finish [as our] heavyweight.”
Gatewood finished 10th out of 30 teams and placed second in Class 2A behind Southland.
“We had seven of 10 wrestlers make a quarterfinal, and we put three kids in semifinals (Pierce, Hewatt, and Middleton). I’m incredibly proud of what they accomplished given our youth and inexperience,” VanDusen said. “We started two eighth graders and four freshmen in our 10 weight classes. [We had six] first-year wrestlers and were the second-highest finishing Class 2A team.”
Gatewood and VanDusen have much to look forward to next season, with many key pieces returning.
“We will add some pieces off our middle school team that I’m expecting big contributions from,” VanDusen said. “We will miss our senior leadership. I hope our underclassmen watched how they worked and went about their business. If we can find leadership on next year’s team, we could be on the verge of building something special.”