![Wrestlers Karter Watson, Weston Tew, Kenard Madden, and Malachi Santiago pose with their coaches after placing at the district tournament. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-83d354b0-5865-5270-e053-0100007fd8f9-ad3a0210.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Bulldog wrestling team had four members qualify for the regional tournament.
Kenard Madden and Weston Tew advanced by winning the District 1, Class 2A championship in their respective weight classes. Karter Watson and Malachi Santiago both earned fourth place bids that led them to the regional tournament.
The wrestlers traveled to Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee for the double elimination tournament. The tournament featured a championship bracket and a consolation bracket. Wrestlers started in the championship bracket, but were moved to the consolation bracket with a loss. They remained in the tournament until they lost a second match.
Madden and Tew received byes in the first round of the championship bracket.
Madden won his championship quarterfinal match, but was defeated in the championship semifinal and the consolation semifinal. Tew lost his championship quarterfinal match. He went on to win his consolation match, but was defeated in the consolation semifinals.
Watson and Santiago both lost their match in the first round of the championship bracket.
Watson won his match in the first round of the consolation bracket, but was later eliminated from contention with a loss in round two. Santiago also won his match in the first round of the consolation bracket, but lost in the second round.
Although the results were not what the team hoped for, scoring only 15 team points, first-year head coach Damon Welch was still proud of how his guys competed.
“I feel like they wrestled the best they could,” said Welch. “They wrestled hard and left everything they had on the mat.”
The loss at regionals means the end of high school wrestling for Tew and Watson, who are both seniors. Coach Welch was impressed with the work they put in during their final season.
“Karter was always ready to put the work in,” said Welch. “He always had the drive to be there.”
“Weston broke his foot last year and didn’t get to start until mid-January,” continued Welch. “He’s a great wrestler with lots of potential.”
Coach Welch expects Santiago, a sophomore, and Madden, a junior, to be back next year.
“Kenard has more of a background in wrestling,” said Welch. “I think he will be back there next year.”
“Malachi always showed up early and stayed late,” added Welch. “He has the work ethic to make it back.”
No matter what the outcome, the guys were always there for another.
“They would tell each other ‘you’ll get him next time’ after a loss,” said Welch. “They were always there to support and encourage each other. I couldn’t expect anything more.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Wrestles to Regionals