*pictured Coach Sam Estrada, Beau Russell, Tate Russell, Luke Lucero of ReZults Wrestling
The parking lot is packed by 7 am. Kids, parents, coaches, families flock to the doors, push through and spread out to claim their 3-day camp-out spot.
The stands quickly fill up, there is no space unaccounted for. Eleven mats cover the pavilion floor.
Excitement and anticipation permeate the atmosphere as white mist from the dry ice machines begins filling the air. A huge white screen at the end of the building begins flashing “Tulsa Nationals”. A slide-show transitions between electrical outlines of an animal eye, a tiger, a claw, a wrestler while dancing laser beams fill the room.
The opening ceremony calls out kids according to their home state. Our Texas flag is carried across the mat by Camden Danielson of Texas Elite while over the intercom “From the great state of Texas, 96 wrestlers”.Â
From 6U to 15U, 35 hours of wrestling over a period of 3 days took place at Tulsa Nationals (TN), “the toughest tournament in the world”. World of Wrestling hosted its largest TN ever, with over 2500 entries from 42 states, the highest number of entries in its 68-year history. For those that bravely enter this daunting tournament there is heartbreak, there is learning, there is victory, and there is growth.
For some it’s their first time here, others have stepped on these mats year after year in pursuit of an eagle. Day 1 typically doesn’t solicit many tears as most wrestlers make it to day 2 (barring injury or illness). Day 2 starts with 32-64-man brackets and ends with only the 6 who will stand on the podium after finals matches on day 3.Â