By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Wetumpka High School Senior Chad Strickland will finish his high school career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in the area. The four-time State Qualifier finished his sophomore season in 4th place in the 113-pound division. He followed that up his Junior year with a 3rd place finish in the 120 pound division.
For his final season, Strickland had an amazing 40-3 record, and advanced to the State Finals in the 138-pound division in Class 6A. After three regulation periods ended, the match was tied 1-1. Strickland then wrestled three overtime periods and came up just short of his goal, dropping the final 2-1 and finished in 2nd place in the State in Class 6A in the 138-pound division.
Despite the intense disappointment of losing such a closely contested match in the State Championship, Strickland held his head high after the match, and shook hands with his opponent and his opponent’s coach, earning the respect of many fans in attendance.
Strickland’s senior season contained several impressive accomplishments. In the 138-pound division, during the regular season he defeated the individual that went on to win the Class 7A Championship in that weight class. He also wrestled in the 132-pound division during the season and defeated the individual that went on to win the Class 5A Championship in that division. Strickland also notched wins of kids ranked #1 in the state in their weight class in both Florida and Louisiana.
The impressive senior season did not happen by accident. Strickland put in countless hours of practice, training at Warrior Wrestling Club with Shad Rissler, a coach well known at helping high school wrestlers advance to the collegiate level. Strickland has also competed out of state, traveling to North Dakota, Oklahoma, Florida, Virginia, and Indiana. He’s competed with the national team for Alabama three different times, placing at Southeast Regionals 6 times and winning once in Greco Roman.
The favorite moment in his wrestling career occurred when the Indians were wrestling for a chance to be in the State Duals Finals. Looking back on the time, Strickland said, “We had loud music playing and we were all getting hype, plus that room was filled with the best wrestlers to ever come through the program.”
While he’s well known as a wrestler, Strickland is a student that has enjoyed his high school career in Wetumpka. Strickland recalled his most memorable high school moment was being in the Wetumpka student section his junior year during the football game against Stanhope Elmore and going crazy when the Indians scored the winning touchdown over the Mustangs.
Strickland plans to continue his wrestling career in college, but has not yet determined where that will be.
To top it off, Strickland was just named Prom King at Wetumpka High School on Saturday night.
