Freshmen twins Marco and Gator Groves battled April 10-12 in the Flo World Wrestling Championships in Reno, Nevada. The tournament is considered one of the largest and toughest youth tournaments in the nation.
Marco fought through a 256-man bracket against some of the best wrestlers in the nation to take 3rd place at 138 pounds. He finished 8-1. A loss in the semi-final round to an Idaho state champ cost him a chance at the crown.
“He was up 7-0 and dominating the first period and I thought he had control of the match,” said Coach Robert Groves. “However, he relaxed in the down position to start the second period and got rolled over and pinned.”
“He had me winged up tight and I couldn’t breath,” said Marco, who won the 132-pound Arizona state title in February. “I should have never let him get control of my elbows.”
Marco rebounded to tech fall and major his next two opponents to earn the consolation championship.
“The kid he beats 15-0 barely lost to the guy who pins him,” Coach Groves said. “That’s wrestling I guess, but we really need to work on the bottom position.”
Gator, who won the 120-pound Arizona state title, also had to fight through a brutal 256-man bracket at 128 pounds. He too had a tough loss in the semi-finals to a tough California opponent after six straight wins. He got the first takedown, but couldn’t maintain the lead and fell 4-2.
“I was getting a little tired,” Gator said. “I really haven’t been working that much on cardio since state.”
He lost again in the consolation semi-finals to a wrestler who lost to a wrestler that Gator had already defeated.
“He only had about 10 minutes before he had to wrestle again,” Coach Groves said. “He really ran out of gas.”
But with a long break before the medal matches to rest, Gator came back strong to take the 5th place match with a first period pin. He finished 7-2.
“Looking at how huge the brackets are can be a little intimidating,” Gator said. “But you only have to wrestle one guy at a time.”
“Yea, just focus on one match at a time and stay calm,” Marco said.
The top eight wrestlers in each weight garnered All-American status.
“Except for a couple minor mental letdowns, both of them should be very proud of their accomplishments,” said Groves. “I certainly am.”