Oklahoma City, OK Alex Sarabia, a Heavyweight wrestler with the Madill Takedown Club, competed in the 2025 Southern Plains Regional Championships on May 17, 2025, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Sarabia recently graduated from 8th grade at Madill Middle School, and even though he has not yet officially entered high school, he won the Silver Medal in the 16U 284-lb division.
Sarabia’s Freestyle win is shocking given Southern Plains Regionals was his first ever Freestyle Tournament. His win is also history-making for the Madill Takedown Club, as he is the Club’s first wrestler to qualify for the illustrious 2025 USMC Junior Nationals.
That national event is colloquially referred to as “Fargo”, as youth wrestlers fromacrosstheUnitedStates converge upon Fargo, ND, for 10 days in July. Admittance to the USMC Junior Nationals requires podium finishes at specific qualifying events.
Sarabia’s silver represents a year of painstaking focus, commitment, dedication and sacrifice to dive headlong into a sport he loves. He secured his silver against a wrestler from Tuttle by executing a flawless head-pinch roll followed by a double-over drop throw.
Sarabia said he is grasping for words to describe his win over Tuttle, a school renowned for its wrestling program.
“I was pumped. It was unreal… surreal. I’m speechless rightnow,”Sarabiasaid.” The win was an exuberant one.”
He admited he is still practicing his vocabulary words even though Southern Plains Regional occurred the day after he finished middle school.
Sarabia’s Head Coach of Freestyle and Greco, Peter Hammer said he was excited to watch Sarabia win.
“I was honored to be in Alex’scorner.Hewasinflow,” Hammer said. “He told me that he didn’t want to settle even though he was a lock for that 3rd place qualifying position. Alex went after it, got back exposure and secured his points by crawling on top. He didn’t give the refs a single reason to concede on Tuttle’s challenge. And, he walked away with the Silver. I’m super proud of him.”
The Madill Takedown Club coaches said they are elated for Sarabia and his family. Qualifying for Fargo is a feat few youth wrestlers achieve. Sarabia did it after only two and a half months of practicing Freestyle and eight months of working intensely with Coach Hammer in Folkstyle.
Being a “Fargo-Qualifier” asayouthwrestleralsoopens doors and gets one noticed when it’s time to apply for colleges. Sarabia’s path and future look exceptionally bright.