Thaxton, Haynie place at state championship
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
In Plato’s Republic, Socrates said: “The person who blends physical training most beautifully with music, and applies them to the soul with the utmost measure, is the one we may rightly declare to be perfectly musical, and well harmonised in the highest degree, much more so than anyone who tunes the strings of an instrument.”
Socrates would have loved Matthew Thaxton. In the classroom he excels academically; he has a 4.13 weighted GPA and has been on the Academic team since 6th grade. He is a skilled and decorated musician who plays the trombone and the euphonium. Thaxton received superior ratings for solo and ensemble performances, and alongside his bandmates, he earned straight superiors for both marching band and concert band. He has been a part of the all district jazz honors band for two years, as well as the all district honors concert band as a Sophomore. Beyond academics and music, Thaxton is equally proficient in athletics. Thaxton has a brown belt in Kenpo and is an accomplished wrestler.
He showcased his wrestling talents over the weekend at the FHSAA State Championship in Kissimmee, finishing with a 3-2 record and securing a 7th place finish. In his final match, Thaxton delivered one of the most exhilarating finishes of the tournament when he faced 5th-ranked William McGowan from St. John Neumann. Struggling to generate offense, Thaxton fell behind 6-1 with a minute and nineteen seconds remaining in the final period.
McGowan got another takedown and 2 nearfall points that extended his lead 11-1. Subsequently, Thaxton escaped with 28 seconds left narrowing the score 11-2.
As time was winding down in the third, so too were any hopes for Thaxton’s victory. With 18 seconds left, Thaxton did the improbable, he took McGowan down with a head and arm and pinned him with just 9 ticks left on the clock.
As Thaxton raised his hands in victory, shouts of triumph rained down from the Wakulla faithful, exuberantly celebrating in the stands.
After the match, Thaxton commented, “I knew I had a job to do and not much time to do it. I couldn’t let myself leave that mat defeated like I did last year.
“One of the things we drilled during the Sunday practices with the middle school coaches was head and arms and more specifically how to correctly finish one without getting rolled through,” Thaxton said. “So I incorporated what I learned there, when I was pinning him.”
HAYNIE PLACES 4TH
If you encountered freshman Kendal Haynie in an everyday setting, you may never know that she is an elite wrestler.
Haynie is a straight A student, who also enjoys baking, possesses a quick wit that keeps those around her laughing, and is not one to brag. Her sunny disposition, radiant smile, and gentle nature could cause the undiscerning to overlook the warrior within.
Haynie boasts a laundry list of state and national level achievements to her credit, and looked to add FHSAA state champion to the list. To achieve it, she knew she would have to go through foes both familiar and fresh. However, she did not anticipate one foe she would face.
On Thursday night, Haynie was, in her coach’s words, “as sick as a dog.” Whether or not she would wrestle was never even a question for Haynie. She came to compete. Although her sickness persisted throughout the weekend, Haynie wrestled with her usual fierceness and relentless determination.
In Round 1, Haynie won by fall over Mater Academy’s Camilla Delgado. In the quarterfinals, Haynie mustered enough strength to pin Zoey McDonald from St. John Neuman. The win advanced her to the semifinals against Keana Bush.
In their previous matchup, Haynie defeated Bush 9-5. This time victory was not meant to be. Although the first period ended in a scoreless tie, Bush pulled away in the second period 12-0. The final score was 12-1.
In the consolation semifinal, Haynie won over Sophia DeAngeles by technical fall 15-0. In her final match of the tournament, Haynie faced returning state champion Mariah Mills.
At the end of one, the score was knotted up at zero. With 33 seconds left in the second, Mills got 4 nearfall points. Early in the third, Mills got a takedown to extend her lead 7-0.
What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. With Mills pressing down, the young War Eagle found herself primed to be pinned, but surrender was never an option for Haynie. For a grueling 1 minute and 28 seconds, she fought with everything she had. The ticking time piece testified of her tenacity, paid tribute to her toughness, and revelled in her refusal to break.
The crowd clutched its collective breath as Kendal defied the inevitable. When the clock struck zero, Mills had to be content with an 11-0 major decision. Though Haynie lost the match, she remained unconquered – her War Eagle spirit burning with a fire no scoreboard could ever measure.
In the end, that fire carried her to an incredible achievement finishing fourth overall in the FHSAA Girls State Championship, proving that toughness isn’t just about a single match, but about the journey, the fight, and the legacy left behind on the mat.
WRESTLER of the WEEK
MATTHEW THAXTON
“Our guy finally put it all together and showed everyone just how good he truly is. The hard work, the grind, and the dedication paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder. This is just the beginning, greatness is on the way!”
Coach Nate Litowski
COACH’S CORNER
“As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of these student-athletes. In such a short time, they have put in the work, pushed their limits, and accomplished so much. This is just the beginning, we will continue to chase greatness, outwork the competition, and build something special. The future is bright for War Eagle Wrestling!”
– Coach Nate Litowsky
PODIUMS FOR TWO WAKULLA WRESTLERS
Wrestlers place at state
Two Wakulla wrestlers earned podiums in the state championships over the weekend: Kendal Haynie placed 4th in girls competition, above, and Matthew Thaxton placed 7th, seen in the photo at the far right. Story on Page 14. (Photos by Walt Jacobs)
WRESTLER of the WEEK
William Harvey
The wrestler of the week is William Harvey, your Region Champion! After battling through injuries and setbacks, William stepped onto the mat looking like his old self, dominating each match on his way to the title. His hard work, perseverance, and determination paid off in a big way, proving that resilience is just as important as skill.
Coach Nate Litowski
COACH’S CORNER
“We’re moving seven on to the State Championship in Kissimmee, an awesome accomplishment, but the job isn’t done. There’s still plenty of wrestling left, and we’re not satisfied yet. I’m proud of these guys for the work they’ve put in, but now it’s time to lock in and finish what we started.”
– Coach Nate Litowsky
