A Lovett Legacy Continues

 

At the beginning of the 2023-2024 Lovett Wrestling Season, Head Coach Billy Maldonado had a theme for this wrestling season: the theme was Legacy.

 

To recognize the past and continue to build on the foundation set before them, Maldonado made magnets with every past state champion’s name and the year they won. Each active wrestler on the roster was to take a magnet of a state champion and wrestle for them this season. At the beginning of the season, each wrestler wrote letters to each state champion to let them know they were wrestling for them this season emphasizing that wrestling at Lovett is bigger than one individual.

 

“There is a tradition here at Lovett. There is a Legacy here,” Maldondo said. “It’s not something that just happened in the last few years. Lovett Wrestling has had some phenomenal teams and individuals.”

 

Fast forward to the State Traditional Championships February 15,2024. Lovett had four finalists competing for a state championship in Patrick Smyth, Cael Kusky, Elle Kaufmann, and Chris Mance, all of whom had the opportunity to continue to build on to that legacy.

 

 

Smyth improved on his 3^rd place performance from last year earning a State Runner-Up finish.

 

Kusky, a two-time State Champion, left every fan on the edge of their seats as he won with a takedown in overtime. Kusky became just the third Lovett wrestler ever to win three state championships.

 

Kaufmann, who became Lovett’s first ever girls state champion last year, had multiple battles to defend her championship. She defeated a pair of twins, one of which she beat in the semifinals. The other twin was the reigning state champion the year prior and now in a different weight class than Kauffman.

 

Kaufmann is a household name in the Lovett Wrestling history books. Her father, Rocky Kaufmann was a two-time state champion at Lovett in 1992 and 1993. Kaufmann was able to secure back-to-back state championships just like her father and continue to etch her name in the Lovett record books.

 

“I'm not so much competing against my family which includes my dad, uncle, brother, and grandfather, as I am continuing to honor our family tradition,” Kaufmann said.” I owe it all to my coaches and I am very thankful for all of the work and time they have dedicated to me. My success is attributable to how much support the wrestling community has shown me. I would never be in this situation if it weren't for my family, friends, and coaches.”

 

Mance, also a two-time State Champion, overcame adversity this season. He dealt with an injury that sidelined him for the majority of the season, but came back during State Team Duals strong as ever. Mance got pins or major points for Lovett in every match he wrestled in leading up to the finals of the State Traditional Tournament. Not only did Mance join Kusky as a three-time state champion, but he pinned his opponent in 35 seconds in the first period.

 

This season, in which the Lions lost many starters from the year prior, new faces and names stepped up when they were called on. The Lovett legacy continued, winning 3^rd in State Team Duals, three State Champions, one State Runner-Up and one State Qualifier.