After more than a decade of rebuilding, grinding through hard training and tough losses, the Huskies have finally arrived. Kayden Vasquez (12) and Rex Topete (11) have earned their spots at the state finals. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of every athlete and coach who put in the work to get here.
For senior Kayden Vasquez (12), reaching state finals was a prominent moment in his wrestling career, especially in high school. Vasquez has been a part of the program all four years and has enjoyed the wrestling community that has shaped him into who he is today. Vasquez explained what qualifying meant to him.
“To me, it meant a lot because it was my goal from when I entered high school, and it was placed on me at an early age that I should have been there a while ago, so it meant a lot to make it,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez explained how he has helped restore the wrestling program’s reputation.
“Just bringing back the pride that South Hills once had, we used to be the best in this area, and I think we’re achieving that again and building a base and just being great,” Vasquez said.
As he prepares to take the next step in wrestling, Vasquez has a clear vision for what he wants to accomplish.
“I’m going to wrestle in college. I want to be all-American, which means to place at the national tournament at least one time in my career and qualify at least three times,” Vasquez said.
Rex Topete (11) has been in the wrestling program for three years. Wrestling has been a constant in his life, and the South Hills program has played a significant role in shaping his journey. With the support of his coaches and his parents, Topete remains focused on his goal of placing at state. Topete shared some advice for younger wrestlers who share that same ambition.
“Just don’t stop. Just keep wrestling. You’ll notice improvement sooner or later. It would mean everything to me [to call myself a state champion] because this is what I’ve been training for, so it would be a great accomplishment,” Topete said.
Topete is also focused on continuing to improve and compete at a higher level as he prepares for the future. As he looks ahead, he hopes to gain more experience against top competition and build momentum for his final high school season.
“My goals as of now are to go wrestle on the national dual team, do good there, and come back next year and try to be on the podium for state,” Topete said.
