On Feb. 15 and Feb. 16, senior Brock Lance and freshman Saber Woodard went to Powdersville High School to attend the Region Two Class 3A Individual Upper-State Championship, and both brought home the upper state titles.

Due to their record, both guys entered the tournament with high seeds, meaning they were expected to win or place high. Because of this, they were given byes for the first championship rounds.

Woodard’s attitude reflected this data, he was confident and prepared to win and move onto state.

Brock, in the 132 weight class, and Woodard, in the 106 weight class, went undefeated at the championship. Woodard won his finals match by dominantly pinning his opponent in the first period, and Lance won by a landslide 7-1.

“I felt like our work finally paid off,” Lance said about his placement at upper-state.

Both Brock and Lance have been to state before, but it is both of their first times going as upper state champions. Lance has been wrestling for twelve years, and Woodard began during middle school.

As the guys prepare for this weekend, Coach Jacob Leslie plans on moving forward the same way they have been all season.

“The key to success at this point and time of the year is to make sure your athletes peak at the right time,” Leslie said. “It is a balance between the right amount of drilling, live wrestling, conditioning, resting, recovering, learning, lifting, and finally bonding together as a team and gaining confidence in yourself as an athlete.”

Lance and Woodard will be attending the Individual Wrestling State Championships held at the Anderson Civic Center. The first round will begin around 11 a.m. on February 22 and Finals at 4:30 p.m. February 23.