‘It’s an historic day’
- Updated: February 21, 2016
Alexandria freshman Knop completes undefeated season, claims school’s first wrestling state title with win in epic battle of unbeatens
Alexandria freshman Christian Knop (R) tries to maneuver around Dora’s Caleb Lauderdale during their epic 170 state championship match Saturday. On the cover, Knop leaps into the arms of Valley Cubs assistant Tyler Causey after winning the state title. (Photos courtesy of Angela Trapp)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
HUNTSVILLE — It was billed an epic showdown and it turned out to be downright historic.
Alexandria freshman Christian Knop and Dora’s Caleb Lauderdale both went into their 170-pound state championship match Saturday with undefeated records. it was the only undefeated head-to-head matchup on the card. Like the gunfights of the Old West, two were going in, only one was coming out.
The one coming out this time was Knop. The spirited 16-10 decision in the most important six minutes of his career not only completed an undefeated season (56-0), but made him the school’s first wrestling state champion.
“It’s an historic day for me and my teammates as well,” Knop said. “I don’t even know what to say; I’m so in awe right now. State champion, oh my gosh. It’s just unbelievable. It’s like the most exciting feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”
There was buildup for the match all season as the two wrestlers moved closer to their destiny each week. They got through the sectionals unscathed and then it was a matter of negotiating the gauntlet of the early rounds here at the Von Braun Center.
Finally, there was the title match. And it was just what you’d expect.
Lauderdale got on top first, taking down Knop for only the third time this season. After that the wrestlers traded points like heavyweight boxers exchanging haymakers in The Main Event. Knop took the lead for good in the second period, scored late with a double-leg that basically forced his senior opponent to pin to win and added points in the closing seconds to seal it.
When it was over, he stormed across the mat and let out a yell that seemed to release a year’s worth of pressure; for him it had been building since he lost in the consolation final here last year. There weren’t enough coaches’ arms around for him to leap into.
The battle was voted the match of the Class 1A-5A meet.
“My strategy was keep pushing the pressure and keep going after it and after it and after it,” Knop said. “Hopefully I could wear him down with more takedowns and just ride him long enough so I could win the match in the third period because I know I’m in better shape than him.
“I felt nervous at the very end when I was up by one point with 20 seconds left. He shot in for a takedown and I defended it pretty well and took him to his back. It’s a relieving feeling to be a state champion. I can go to school on Monday happy. I’ve been talking to everybody at my school saying I’m going to be a state champ and that’s what I did, became a state champion.”
It’s one thing to say it, another entirely to do it. But he prepared for it, this freshman who carries himself older than his years.
“I feel like coming into this season I put myself on a pedestal and if I didn’t do anything but walk out of here a state champion I’d have disappointed myself, my teammates and my family,” Knop said.
He could be on that pedestal for a long time. Valley Cubs coach Frank Hartzog can see him repeating as state champion and even going undefeated again.
“I just feel like if he can compete at that level, he’s always going to be able to compete,” Hartzog said. “I was worried, especially when (Lauderdale) took him down. He usually gets mad, but he stayed calm. That’s a high profile match and then to get taken down right off the bat … I got sick to my stomach. Then we hit that switch and I was like heck it’s going to be a good match.
“I don’t think as a ninth grader I would have been able to really put things into perspective; that speaks volumes about his character. He’s just a good kid. He loves wrestling. That’s why he excels at it. He spends his time devoted to bettering himself year round.”
And now he’s a state champion … An undefeated state champion … As a freshman. Let that roll off your tongue for a while and see if it doesn’t make you smile.
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