Third time’s the charm: Eaton’s Blake Hawkins secures elusive state title after pair of runner-up finishes ...Saudi Arabia

For Eaton junior Blake Hawkins, a state wrestling title was always in the cards.

But, with the hand he was dealt his freshman and sophomore years, it took a little longer than he — and those around him — probably expected.

Hawkins finally snagged that elusive gold medal this past month, topping the 113-pound bracket of the Class 3A state tournament with a win over Alamosa’s Anthony Meder in the final round — after falling in the championship match each of his first two seasons.

“It’s not fun losing in the finals,” Hawkins said. “All those eyes on you watching you walk off the mat, just knowing you were one step away, one match away, six minutes away. Obviously, it’s tough.”

Hawkins was playing catch-up his entire freshman season after coming into the year with a torn medial patellofemoral ligament. He competed in only 26 matches at 106 pounds — going 21-5, according to Trackwrestling.

While most are trying to cut weight by the end of the year, Hawkins faced the opposite problem.

On the third day of the state tournament, he weighed just 98 pounds — 12 under the 110 pound limit after the buffer that is added as multi-day tournaments go on.

“I’m a firm believer of the reason he lost his state finals match his freshman year was because he was so much smaller than the kid he wrestled,” Eaton coach Tony Mustari said.

Coming back healthy, stronger and more technically sound, it would only make sense that Hawkins would be the favorite heading into his sophomore season.

There just so happened to be a highly-touted freshman just seven miles west down Weld County Road 74 stepping into that 106-pound class  — someone Hawkins was all-too-familiar with.

Severance’s Drake VomBaur is the last — and possibly most talented — brother in a highly decorated family of wrestlers.

“Drake, I’ve trained with since I was about six years old,” Hawkins said. “So that was a tough battle. That loss. I mean a loss is a loss. It sucks, but I have great respect for him and their family.”

Drake’s oldest brother, Will, won three state titles at Windsor and wrestled in college at Air Force and Utah Valley. The middle brother, Vance, was a two-time state champion at Windsor and was an NCAA All-American — finishing eighth at 141 pounds — as a redshirt sophomore at Minnesota this past year. This season, Vance is 20-3 and heads into the Big Ten Conference tournament as a No. 4 seed.

Their father, Ben, finished his high school career in Evergreen, Washington undefeated before going on to be a two-time All-American at Boise State.

Since 2011, Ben has run Bear Cave wrestling — one of the top-ranked youth wresting programs in the country and one that Hawkins has spent more than his fair share of time at.

“They offer classes four days a week, basically year-round,” Hawkins said. “So, I’m going three to four days a week wrestling during the offseason. It’s the best club in Colorado by far.”

While nobody on the outside was surprised that Drake stepped in and won a state title his freshman year, Hawkins was much closer to VomBaur than most casual observers would have imagined.

Before VomBaur’s 41-0 freshman campaign officially kicked off, Hawkins topped him 1-0 in a preseason match in Chicago. The two squared off four times once the records counted — with VomBaur winning them all but by a total of just 10 points over the four contests, including a 7-3 result in the gold medal match.

“I was right there,” Hawkins said. “I was on his tail the whole season. I just didn’t quite get it done. But I’m thankful for it quite honestly. It made me stay more locked in and just get better.”

Those two championship losses — and the nearly 10 years leading up to them — set the stage for Hawkins this season. With Severance — and VomBaur — moving up to Class 4A ahead of the season, the 113-pound bracket was wide open.

“I think he left the state tournament those last two years with that sour taste in his mouth,” Mustari said. “And he was bound and determined not to let that happen this year. So I think that was the biggest thing, just the mental drive and determination.”

Heading into the state tournament, the writing was basically on the wall for Hawkins. After two technical falls and a pin put Hawkins in the finals against Meder — who Hawkins had beaten 15-5 at regionals the week before — it was just a matter of taking care of business.

“I knew going in I couldn’t get complacent. You don’t want to underestimate a guy,” Hawkins said. “But I was wrestling well. I knew I prepared well. I knew I trained well. I knew I did everything throughout the season better than that kid did.”

The results of that championship match bore out Hawkins’ thoughts. With a comfortable 13-4 major decision, Hawkins was on top at last.

“It felt pretty good,” Hawkins said, humbly. “I got to spend a little time with my parents on the side of the mat, which was cool. Then, seeing Mustari down there too, man, it was a great experience.”

So what was different this year?

Some may say he finally grew into his body. Others may hypothesize the bracket finally broke the right way.

Hawkins will tell you it was just time. He’s been putting in the work and trusted the process — the championship win was just a culmination of all that.

“I didn’t change too much,” Hawkins said. “I matured mentally is really where the difference was. And then just the skill. Picking apart little things that I know aren’t going great and that need a little fixing.”

Hawkins said a lot of those fixes came with his dad, Matt, in the basement of their Eaton home. Over the past near-decade, the pair has spent many evenings tweaking things and perfecting technique.

And as much as his dad helps him out, he gives as much — if not more — credit to his mother, Audrey.

“My mom helps me out with the nutrition side, the mental side. I could count on one hand how many things she’s missed,” Hawkins said. “My family is pretty tight knit. I’m very thankful to have that. They push me to the the best I am. So, I would give a lot of the success I’ve had to my parents.”

The support didn’t just start when he was in high school. Hawkins has been traveling around the country to compete in high-level tournaments since he was young — preparing him for when the lights are the brightest.

“I’ve been in those big moments since I was a little kid.” Hawkins said. “Honestly, my parents really helped me out by getting me around the country, coast to coast, with the best guys in the country.”

But that support extends past the four walls of his home — reaching throughout the greater Eaton community. Both Hawkins and Mustari raved about the support they receive from the tight-knit small town.

“People in this community up here, they back everything we do,” Mustari said. “They support everything we do and they help us accomplish our goals. They’re the ones that make it possible to succeed at the level we do.”

So when the final horn sounded and Hawkins was officially atop the mountain, he knew he would see nothing less than a sea of red in the stands, cheering him on.

“It’s really fun to have people that are on your side,” Hawkins said. “When you look up. And you hear them. The Eaton community is amazing. For a 3A school with less than 600 people in the whole school, it’s crazy to see the support. It’s amazing.”

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Third time’s the charm: Eaton’s Blake Hawkins secures elusive state title after pair of runner-up finishes )

Also on site :

• Olivia Attwood reveals why she’s GLAD about husband’s womanising past despite always meeting someone he’s slept with
• Frank Lampard saved Cristiano Ronaldo in ultimate moment of sportsmanship
• What My Children Taught Me About Loving Our Holy Father