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Gabriel Smith
Senior
285 pounds
Please give me a few highlights of your season.
Runner-up Osceola Knockout
Winning State Duals
Winning Traditional State
Favorite wrestling move:
Step around body lock
Impact of winning the traditional and dual state championships this season.
Winning traditional and state duals has opened a lot of opportunities and allowed me to meet many new people. It has encouraged me to be excited about what the future holds and all that I can accomplish in life.
What makes Camden wrestling so special?
Camden wrestling is more of a family rather than a team; that’s what it feel makes it so special
How has the program, coaches teammates influenced the person you are striving to be in life?
Having the great coaches I have and being in the program I’m in has influenced me by preparing me to be mentally tough through anything.
What do you hope your legacy to the Camden wrestling program?
I hope when people look at my name on the wall, they know that it’s not what you do but how you do it. Anybody can be a champion with persistence and hard work.
Coach’s Quote: “Gabe is a very athletic heavyweight who was the anchor in our lineup. You don’t get the opportunity to coach many heavyweights that have work ethic, technique, talent, and toughness. He will be sorely missed.”
Bunmi Smith
Junior
160 pounds
Please give me a few highlights of your season.
Winning State Duals and Traditional State Titles in the same year
Favorite wrestling move:
Super duck
What makes Camden wrestling so special?
Our coaching staff & the work we put in the offseason.
Coach’s Quote: “Probably the most talented of the State Champs who has been wrestling a long time. He started to relax and gain some genuine confidence this season, so we think he will be even more dominant next year.”
Domonique Hargrave
Senior
182 pounds
Please give me a few highlights of your season.
My first tournament back to wrestling after football season, I won the whole tournament. Also, winning state, because I have been wanting to do that since I started wrestling.
Favorite wrestling move:
Throw-by single
Impact of winning the traditional and dual state championships this season.
It feels great because it’s like all the hard work has finally paid off.
What makes Camden wrestling so special?
Because we work harder than the rest, we are meaner than the rest, and we carry ourselves around as if we can’t be beaten.
How has the program, coaches teammates influenced the person you are striving to be in life?
Camden wrestling has taught me the value of self-pride. If you want to do something in life, do what you have to do to do it. And also that excuses will get you nowhere in life.
What do you hope your legacy to the Camden wrestling program?
That I was always was the odd ball from the group, and that even though I’m short, I can still kick your butt.
Coach’s Quote: “Domonique is a great combination of talent and work ethic. He takes pride in being tough mentally and that wears on his opponents. We will miss him in the practice room as much as we will miss him competing for us.”
Raydan Wilder
Freshman
120 pounds
Please give me a few highlights of your season.
1st @ Coastal Clash in SC, Undefeated @ state duals,
Favorite wrestling move:
Probably a Roll-Through Tilt or Arm-Bar
Impact of winning the traditional and dual state championships this season.
It feels great that all the hard work we put in as a team and individually has paid off. It was an emotional moment that I know I won’t ever forget. It’s been a great feeling and experience that I hope to go through next year as well.
What makes Camden wrestling so special?
The bond that all of us have with each other, the numerous hours we put in, and the teammates and coaches that push us to work together to be great and achieve our goals.
How has the program, coaches teammates influenced the person you are striving to be in life?
Wrestling has definitely had a major impact on my life so far; it’s taught me to never give up and to constantly improve to be the best, but it also teaches humility, respect, and discipline, which I think are extremely important to being successful in wrestling and in life.
What do you hope your legacy to the Camden wrestling program?
I hope that Camden wrestling will continue to be the top team in the state, and personally I want to accomplish my goal of being the first four-timer.
Coach’s Quote: “Raydan is an intelligent wrestler who knows how to manage a match and is hard to score on. He is just a freshman, so we think he will get a lot better this offseason and come back more dominant next year.”
Antonio Stewart
Junior
170 pounds
Please give me a few highlights of your season.
Pinning my way through state duals, pinning my way to the finals at traditional state, and winning both state duals as a team and traditional state as an individual.
Favorite wrestling move:
My favorite wrestling move is the ball and chain step over.
Impact of winning the traditional and dual state championships this season.
Winning state traditional as well as dual state has had a great impact on me. It gives me confidence in my abilities and in my team. At the same time, it keeps me humble knowing that I am human just like everyone else.
What makes Camden wrestling so special?
What makes Camden wrestling so special is our coaches. We have the best coaches in the state. They are wise and have a master plan, not just for present time but also for the future.
How has the program, coaches teammates influenced the person you are striving to be in life?
This program has taught me to be disciplined and have self-control in everything I do. Also, my coaches have instilled in me to see the future and understand that “what you do now will absolutely affect who and what you will be later on in life”. My teammates are my brothers and we are constantlly building each other up and striving everyday to push and make each other better.
What do you hope your legacy to the Camden wrestling program?
My legacy that I want people to know me for in wrestling is that I went from not going to state as a sophmore to being a state champ as a junior. I want people to know that hard work, dedication, and time is what it takes to be a champion.
Coach’s Quote: “Antonio improved weekly this season. He went from sharing varsity time as a sophomore to being one of the more dominant wrestlers on our team and ultimately winning the state championship. I look forward to how good he could be by this time next year.”
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