OKC - Alex Sarabia, a Light Heavyweight wrestler withWarHammerWrestling Club, competed in the 2026 Southern Plains Regional Championships May 15-16, 2026, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.
Sarabia made Madill history by being the first local student to qualify in Greco Romanwrestlingforthe2026 USMC Junior Freestyle and Greco Nationals in Fargo, ND.
Coming off an injury, he took the Silver in Greco this weekend. Then, he continued his streak run by becoming a 2x Fargo qualifier in Freestyle. That is a back-to-back qualifying streak that hasn’t happened in over 20 years for a Madill wrestler since Brent Parkey did it in 2002 and again in 2003.
TheUSMCJuniorNationals is an illustrious national event colloquially referred to as “Fargo”. Youth wrestlers fromacrosstheUnitedStates converge upon Fargo, ND, for over a week in July. This year’s Fargo is predicted to have 18,000 matches per United World Wrestling Officials in discussion at this year’s Pan-American Championships in Iowa.
Sarabia’s qualifying in both disciplines highlights a full year of grit and sacrifice. Sarabia said overcoming his broken leg was tough, but he did it.
It’s been the hardest 2 months of my athletic journey,” Sarabia said. “Coach Hammer and I worked on visualization, mindset, analyzing wrestlingfootageofthe greats, eventual drilling and areas where I could control the controllables.”
“I’m so grateful to have qualified after recuperating 2 months prior,” Sarabia shared.
Coach Hammer offered his thoughts on Sarabia’s success.
“Roger Frizzell and I have been humbled watching Alex really lean into his faith,” Hammer said. “We’re both honored to be a part of his story. Alex is a freshman. He’s qualified twice now for Fargo. He still has three more years of high school.”
“The last person to qualify back-to-back twice and three times total in Freestyle went on to wrestle for John Smith at OK State.” Hammer said, referring to Parkey.