Callyn Divine, a freshman, had an outstanding season at the 4-1A state Championship, finishing in 2nd place in the 130 pound weight class with a record of 40-1. Her only loss came to a senior who was also undefeated. She achieved multiple program milestones, including a 40 win season, being the first Lady Dragon to reach the podium, and becoming the first state finalist in program history. What a remarkable season for Callyn Divine!
Junior Kahlyn Davis also had a standout season, finishing in 5th place in the 125 pound weight class at state with a record of 36-13. Despite facing tough competition, she defeated a regional champion and the #6 All-class wrestler on her way to earning a spot on the podium.
Junior Connor Herman showcased his talents on the wrestling mat, finishing in 5th place at the 4A state championship with an impressive record of 36-6. He proved to be a tough competitor against top opponents, quietly excelling and getting the job done.
Junior wrestler Clayton Considine achieved a 5th place finish at the 4A state championship with a season record of 35-13. Along his journey to the podium, he defeated a regional champion and the #4 ranked wrestler in the state. In his 5th place match, he emerged victorious against the #5 ranked wrestler, demonstrating his ability to compete with any opponent.
Zandri Watkins also made her mark at state, securing a victory in her second round backside match. Though she did not place, her season was marked by steady improvement and impressive performances.
Coach Ortiz called this season fantastic, with a team of 18 wrestlers (including 2 Sedgwick students) and 4 managers. However, he will be leaving Halstead next year to return to his hometown, where his wife is currently teaching and coaching, and his children are attending school.
"This was one of the toughest decisions that I have ever made, but in the end it is best for my family." Ortiz added. "I love the town of Halstead, and the sport of wrestling, but I cannot miss out on this opportunity to be there with my family."
Ortiz's program was a success thanks to the hard work of Matt Divine, Colton Miller, and Kaden Kraus, his dedicated assistants. The Lady Cardinals had some standout performances this season, with Brooklyn Foster achieving a remarkable 26 wins, a first in Sedgwick's history. Halstead is lucky to have the coop program with Sedgwick.
Parker Metoyer showcased her versatility by winning matches in 3 different weight classes. Ava Armstrong, coming back from injury, had a strong season with 16 wins and almost qualifying for state. Reggie Newman made great progress with 11 wins, and Tucker Divine's determination shone through as he fought through injuries to finish with 24 wins. Despite setbacks, Tucker's resilience never wavered, and his potential for success in the post-season was evident.
Coach Ortiz had more to say on what he hopes the program can continue to do, "My greatest hope is that the program continues to make strides in becoming a perennial state contender. In the past 3 seasons we have ignited something special. Some of the accomplishments being: two top 10 state ranked men’s teams, a men’s regional runner up team finish, 18 state qualifiers between guys and girls, 8 state placers between guys and girls, three top 15 state tournament finishes between guys and girls, our first ever women’s program, first ever women's state qualifier(s)/placers, and first ever women’s state finalist." Ortiz stated. "We took a program that hadn’t had a state placer for a couple of seasons, and made it an annual thing. The kids here bought into the vision of what we can accomplish and ran with it. Accomplishments now become tomorrow’s memories, but the lessons instilled help to engrain the future leaders of our community. I will always be the biggest fan of all of my previous athletes, and will always be in their corners!"
Incredible season Dragons!!!