Back-to-back

CASPER – At around 7 p.m. on Saturday, Worland senior Austin Beck was about to wrestle for his second consecutive 220-pound title at the Class 3A Wyoming High School State Wrestling Championships. He paced the Casper Events Center floor, occasionally glancing over to watch whichever championship match was going on.

He looked on as his teammate JD Nelson dropped a tough 5-4 decision in the 160-pound title match. A short time later, it was his other teammate Wade Goncalves who was getting his hand raised after a 55-second pin in the 182-pound title match.

A total of 36 state champions from the 2A, 3A and 4A ranks were crowned before Beck got the chance to wrestle for a title of his own. And after a two-hour wait, he found himself on center stage – face-to-face with Jackson’s Josh Dawson on the 3A mat which sat in the dead center of the horseshoe-shaped arena.

It was going to be one of the toughest matches of his career.

He knew that.

He expected it.

“I was definitely nervous because I know he’s a strong kid and if I made one little mistake he would counter on it with all the strength he has,” Beck said of Dawson.

Luckily for Beck, he was nearly flawless in the match as he went on to defeat Dawson by an 8-1 decision.

He overcame injury, bothered by his left knee which he twisted in the opening seconds of the second period. But he went on to score six points in the period – scoring on an escape, a takedown and near fall after almost pinning Dawson.

He was awarded two more points in the third period after a pair of unnecessary roughness penalties on Dawson. By then, the outcome of the match seemed already well in hand.

But Beck never let up until the final whistle blew.

Then, the celebration ensued as he faced the Worland crowd and first showing a sign of affection to his mom before throwing both arms in the air with two fingers raised on each hand – representing his two state titles.

“It didn’t hit me as hard as my first one, but I’m actually really happy for this one because a lot of people doubted me. Last year, they said I had an easy road to the title and that I walked away with it,” Beck said. “I’m glad to show people that I earned this one. It makes it so much better.

“I think it even made my mom a little bit happier. She was glad I pushed through everything and finished the match with the win. I didn’t let anything else get to me, I just focused on what I had to do.”

Now, Beck joins the list of Worland Warrior wrestlers who have captured multiple state titles in their respective high school careers.

His picture and nameplate will hang with the rest of theirs in the wrestling room at Worland Middle School, solidifying him a spot amongst the many great wrestlers who came through the program before him.

The legacy he leaves is one of not only success, but also leadership, dedication, perseverance and determination. All great aspects needed to make a champion.

“It’s unbelievable that I’ll be up there on the wall in that wrestling room to where kids can look up to me,” Beck said. “I was talking to my teammate and we were talking about being able to show our kids when we’re older.

“It’ll be a good memory to hold onto.”