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CYPRESS – In the history of the Kingwood Park wrestling program, the highest finish by a wrestler had been fourth place.
Maddie Sandquist was the most recent to do it, finishing fourth last year in the 128-pound weight class, after going 1-2 in the state tournament her freshman year.
"Honestly I thought second time was the charm," Sandquist said with a laugh. "So, yes going into this year I definitely thought third time was the charm."
Following her finish at state a year ago, Kingwood Park coach Jeff Knight knew this year could be the one.
The one where Sandquist would make history.
"Last year she was sick and had a back injury, so she knew she could do better," Knight said. "From day one she said this is going to be the year. She was on a mission. She just had a great year all year long."
Sandquist moved up to the 138-pound weight class for her junior season and in it posted a 49-4 record to get to her third-straight state wrestling tournament.
On Saturday, Sandquist completed her mission.
The junior defeated Mea Mohler of Leander Glenn by a 2-1 decision, completed her year with a 53-4 overall record and the Class 5A 138-pound State Championship.
"It's our first state title ever to bring back to the school," Sandquist said. "I'm so thankful that I get the opportunity to do that for my school. It's amazing."
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Being so close last year, Sandquist learned from her experience.
She put in countless hours of work in the offseason and said she knew if she put in the hard work and keep her mental space right, she would win.
"I definitely approached it different than last year," Sandquist said. "Last year, state week was just a wreck. So, this week I tried to not change anything from every other week of the season. I knew I didn't have to change anything. I just wanted to go in and do what I've been doing all season long."
The win by Sandquist, who said she will be wearing her gold medal draped around her neck on Monday morning at Kingwood Park High School, does more than just make history.
For Knight, he hopes that young girls will see what she has done and look to follow in her footsteps, which in turn will hopefully continue the growth of the program.
"Girls wrestling is on the rise," Knight said. "That just gives us another opportunity to let people know about it and try and encourage more girls to try and come out. We've had good numbers but maybe these young girls coming up will look at Maddie as a role model now and get more girls to try and do it in the future."
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CYPRESS – Once her final high school wrestling match was over, Amanda Mcaleavey ran towards her coach Ryan Crosby.
Just like last year – after she won the Class 6A 110-pound State Championship – the Cypress Creek senior embraced him. Except she didn't jump in his arms.
"When she was going to hug me and she didn't hug me as hard as she did last year when she won it," Crosby said. "I was like 'What's she doing'."
Instead, Mcaleavey ducked under his arms spun around and joyfully threw her coach onto the mat for one final time. This time as the 6A 102-pound State Champion.
"I was in the moment," Mcaleavey said with a laugh. "I was like a lot of practice, a lot of drilling. It's time to get him back."
"It was great," Crosby added with a smile.
The duo had every reason to be celebrating.
Last year, when Mcaleavey won the Class 6A 110-pound State Championship, she finished the season undefeated at 51-0.
With her 5-1 victory over Mia Arceneaux of Rockwall on Saturday, the senior completed her senior season undefeated at 40-0.
Amanda Mcaleavey completed her final two years of high school wrestling with an impeccable 91-0 record and back-to-back state crowns.
"It was a blessing, I wouldn't want to end it any other way," Mcaleavey said. "I think ending on a win really means a lot to me. I feel like it sets my record straight for college wrestling."
The pressure to finish with another state title was a bit family and well sister-rivalry driven.
Amanda's sister Anna in her high school career finished with a pair of state crowns and there was no way little sister would finish short of that.
"I couldn't let her win," Mcaleavey said. "I had to tie her."
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Mcaleavey made the change in weight classes for the 2019-2020 season because of how her first trip to state as a sophomore ended.
That year, Mcaleavey lost in the state semifinals. Three years later, she's a state champion.
"I just wanted to come back and redeem myself and prove myself," Mcaleavey said.
Mcaleavey's career is over at Cypress Creek with the finality of her last match inside the Berry Center. But she will be a wrestler Crosby will not soon forget.
"Few and far between you find a kid like that," Crosby said. "She puts in the work. She's extremely aggressive and she got a lot of older siblings and that shows in her wrestling. It's a family ordeal."
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