2021-22 KRCS Wrestling Team
THROUGHOUT THE 2021-22 SEASON, THE KING’S RIDGE WRESTLING TEAM LIVED BY A BIBLE PASSAGE – PROVERBS 27:17.
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
That approach is what the first year King’s Ridge wrestling program lived by. When the program started, the expectation was around four to six wrestlers in year one. There were 15.
“Wrestling was at the top of my list in terms of new programs to start at KR,” Athletic Director Crissy Watkins said. “We secured a facility to train off campus, announced the program, and it took off.
The Tigers went on to compete in the 2022 GAPPS State Tournament and finished as the team State Runner-Up.
Walker Harris, Andrew Kiser and Ren Gilmer finished as State runner-ups in their respective weight classes. Harris competed in the 130-pound division, Kiser in the 155-pound class and Gilmer in the 285-pound class.
All were selected as all-state.
In the 142-pound class, Carson Salvatierra took third and Max Moore placed fifth; in 155 Ethan Dorsett placed fourth; in 170 Perry Kolton and Hank Holt took sixth and seventh, respectively. In the 184-pound division, it was Branch Shaw and Mack Halsima taking fourth and fifth.“
Coach Thierry Chau did an incredible job leading our kids and building their confidence,” Watkins said.
“Some might not know that Thierry was a two-time champion in high school, an All-American, and he wrestled on scholarship at Northwestern. He’s coached at some of the best programs in the area as well so we’re fortunate to have him heading up the program.”
Having a banner year in just the first season has brought a sense of excitement about the new Tigers’ sport around the halls of KRCS.
“This first season will always be a memorable one for the school and we expect the program to keep growing,” Watkins said. “We’re looking at fielding a middle school team and finding opportunities to get our Lower School kids involved as well.”
