Cody Thorn
Midlothian not only had a pair of champions at the boys 5A UIL championships, the Panthers had a pair of undefeated champions.
Eli Biermann capped off his perfect season by winning the 138-pound crown, while Karson Tompkins capped it with a 190-pound championship.
The title for Biermann was his second, while Tompkins capped off his career with three state champions.
Biermann beat the No. 4-ranked Nathaniel Rechtfertig of Salado in the semifinals and then bested Nathan Ruiz of Canyon Randall in the finals. He beat the No. 2-ranked Ruiz by a close 2-0 margin. The difference was a takedown in the third period.
“I kept the pace down; I didn’t want to get caught,” Biermann said. “I knew he was good on top I went neutral and see if my top game would work. I felt him break and I got my two at the end.”
Biermann finished 39-0 this year after going 47-1 last year and winning the 132-pound crown. He was third as a sophomore and fifth as a freshman.
Biermann dedicated his tournament like he did many others — to his late mother, who died when he was in sixth grade.
“I know she is up there watching over me and everything I do is for her,” he said.
Next year, he will wrestle for Tarleton State, which will be the first Division I program in Texas.
Tompkins capped his career as one of the best wrestlers ever in the Lone Star state’s history — which dates back to 1999.
“I just practice a lot and I have good teammates…
