Ethan Ahrens is the FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year.
Ethan Ahrens is the FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year.
The goal of high school wrestlers is to peak at the end of the season, to stand on the medal stand at the state tournament and bend slightly forward to receive a medal around the neck.
A senior, Ethan Ahrens of Astronaut High was on track to experience it, just as older brother Travis had done before him. Then, hours before he was to wrestle at the regional competition where his state qualification was on the line, Ahrens’ grandfather died in the very gymnasium where the meet would take place.
“Honestly, I don’t really remember a lot. It was a surreal moment,” Ahrens recalled Thursday. “It didn’t even feel real at the time, but how much he wanted to watch me wrestle and to see me succeed was motivation.”
Ahrens placed second there at 145 pounds, losing to Lake Highland Prep’s Jake Brindley, a two-time state champion. It was a rare defeat in a 66-6 season that pushed him to the top of the War Eagles career victory list at 173.
Ahrens’ nine-year wresting tour coming to an end
The regional runner-up finish also earned a state berth, and Ahrens went on to place third in Class 1A at 145 pounds. Now he adds FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year to his accomplishments, something else he shares with brother Travis, who received the honor in 2014.
Included among Ethan’s biggest wins was one that went overtime in the Cape Coast Conference finals. He defeated Palm Bay’s Bryce Poppell there, 9-7. Poppell went on to win a fourth-place state medal in 2A.
Ahrens’ coach, Ethan Walker, remembered that his senior trailed late in the match.
“He had to score a takedown to put it into overtime,” Walker said. “It was probably one of his more impressive wins.”
It was also a favorite of Ahrens.
“That was definitely a good one. When it was over, I basically crawled off the mat because I was worn out.”
But he wasn’t finished.
To that conference title he added first at District 8-1A and, eventually, stood on the podium, family on hand, at the state tournament in Kissimmee.
Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.
MORE: Travis Ahrens is 2014 FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year
MORE: Six Brevard County wrestlers win state medals in 2016
All-Space Coast Wrestling
First team
Timothy Tran, 106 pounds, Junior, Bayside
Casey Jackson, 113 pounds, Junior, Merritt Island
Justin Baxter, 120 pounds, Senior, Bayside
Connor Kirk, 126 pounds, Junior, Astronaut
Joey Fletcher, 132 pounds, Senior, Melbourne
Shane Stewart, 138 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay
Ethan Ahrens, 145 pounds, Senior, Astronaut
Dylan Perrow, 152 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay
Matt Cates, 160 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay
Joe Fields, 170 pounds, Sophomore, Melbourne
Chris Ralston, 182 pounds, Senior, Satellite
Caden Norris, 195 pounds, Junior, Merritt Island
Spencer Beard, 220 pounds, Senior, Rockledge
Joe Lopez, Heavyweight, Junior, Heritage
Sean Ballard, Coach, Palm Bay
Second team
Carson Kirk, 106, Fr., Astronaut
Louis Cortez, 113, Soph., Astronaut
Seth Adeclat, 120, Jr., Heritage
Darius Darr, 126, Sr., Viera
Jason Amato, 132, Fr., Space Coast
Paul Hirsch, 138, Sr., Eau Gallie
Bryce Poppell, 145, Jr., Palm Bay
Brock Grant, 152, Sr., Satellite
Rene Capo, 160, Sr., Merritt Island
Johnathan Pankow, 170, Soph., Space Coast
Zac Viers, 182, Jr., Space Coast
Jorge Altenor, 195, Soph., Palm Bay
Isaiah Rivera, 220, Jr., Space Coast
Javohn Maravolo, Hvy, Jr., Astronaut
Honorable mention
Reggie Bradley, Soph., Space Coast; Alex Bucy, Sr., Heritage; Owen Cavanaugh, Jr., Bayside; Arlen Dean, Jr., Palm Bay; Gabe Etienne, Soph., Melbourne; Owen Graham, Jr., Melbourne; Darren Higgins, Soph., Merritt Island; Gavin Johnson, Sr., Viera; E.J. Krajewski, Jr., Rockledge; Austin Lashure, Sr., Rockledge; Nick Lebeau, Sr., Astronaut; Chris Patterson, Soph., Palm Bay; Beau Pickard, Sr., Bayside; Sam Voor, Sr., Astronaut
High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/