It has been five years since WS wrestling had a state qualifier; that changed this year when Senior Austin Flanagan not only qualified, but also placed in the state tournament.

“This season I wasn’t expecting to go all the way to states but my confidence rose after winning the NOVA classic,” said Flanagan.

Flanagan has had tremendous success this year on the mat, placing 1^st at the NOVA classic, 1^st at the JEB Stuart tournament, and 2^nd at the Battle of The Bridge tournament. Over the course of the season the four year veteran wrestler had compiled a record of 43-4 entering the Patriot District Tournament.

“It feels great to win,” said Flanagan. “It’s great to win at any tournament.”

In the District tournament, Flanagan fell just sort of the finals losing in the semi-finals to South County in a tight bout that ended 5-4. After his disappointing loss, he rallied to win two more matches and finished 3^rd in the district, qualifying for regionals.

In regionals, Flanagan once again breezed past the competition to the semi-finals, where he again fell one match shy of the finals, dropping to the conciliation bracket. Flanagan finished 4^th, barely qualifying for the state tournament, but he would soon get a second chance at the wrestlers who bested him in the region.

“To place in states I had to beat two people who had beaten me in regionals,” said Flanagan.

Flanagan entered the state tournament at one of the lowest possible seeds. As a 4^th place finisher, he had to wrestle one of the four regional champions. Not only did he win the match, he also won in convincing fashion, beating the Northwest region champion 7-1.

“It was great to go in on a win because it set the tone for the rest of the tournament,” said Flanagan.

Later on that day he would wrestle and lose to the eventual 4^th place finisher, causing him to fall into the conciliation bracket. With his season on the line and only having to win one more match to place, Flanagan faced Mount Vernon wrestler Nathan Haro whom he had wrestled two times previously; beating him once in the NOVA classic finals and losing to him once in the regional conciliation finals.

“I knew I would be wrestling the kid who beat me for 3^rd in the region, said Flanagan,” I really had to get my mind set so I could go out and win.”

Flanagan went out and pinned him in the first period to secure a place atop the state podium and advance to the second day of the tournament.

“Being there the second day was great because half the people in states didn’t get to come back for a second day,” said Flanagan.

The second day did not go so well for the WS wrestler but his efforts the previous day earned him a spot atop the state podium at number 8 in the 220 weight class.

“It gets lonely at the top,” said Flanagan.