Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tops on the mat
Tristan Stafford claimed the Class 6A Arkansas High School State Wrestling title a year ago at 106 pounds despite being 6-8 pounds under the weight limit as a sophomore.
The Bentonville High junior returned bigger and stronger this year and dominated the weight class, earning his second straight state championship at 106.
Stafford finished the season 46-1 — undefeated against in-state competition — and for his accomplishments has been honored as the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.
He has not only excelled against wrestlers in Arkansas but also shown to be among the best in the country in his weight class. Stafford also earned back-to-back All-American honors at the United States Marine Corps Cadet and Junior National Championships held over the summer in Fargo, N.D.
Addison Loney of Van Buren bounced back from a loss in the 6A-West conference tournament to claim the state title in the inaugural Arkansas Activities Association-sanctioned girls’ state wrestling tournament at 140 pounds. The sophomore also earned the distinction as the first girls’ All-NWADG Wrestler of the Year.
Stafford acknowledged last season he was focused on using good technique to pile up victories since being undersized. He did that just fine to the tune of a 50-8 record. But this season was different, Stafford said.
“I had to focus on myself last year being under weight,” Stafford said. “This year I was able to focus on not just winning but being able to help my team by getting bonus points whenever I could.”
That worked out well, too, as Stafford helped the Tigers claim
their fourth consecutive state team title.
Bentonville coach Jason Adams said Stafford is hard on himself even after wins and sets his goals high.
“Tristan’s always motivated to go further and do more,” Adams said. “He believes he can win every match and that attitude can take you a long way in life. He’s not looking to be second in anything he does.”
Stafford was hoping to go undefeated but lost a tough match to an Oklahoma wrestler who would later finish as a state runner-up. Stafford didn’t let it derail him though.
“You can only learn from those things,” Stafford said. “You can’t sit on them and get yourself in a bad place. I think it helped me in the long run.”
Loney (22-2) managed to win several matches last season against boys as a regular in the Pointers’ line. The freshman was only one win
away from a medal in the 6A-West conference tournament.
“When you go up against a boy and shake hands, you can see whether they are gonna try their hardest because they don’t want to lose to a girl or be nice,” Loney said. “Sometimes that’s not the best idea for them.
“Sitting across the mat they think they have the easiest match. But then you whip their tail end and they re-think that.”
Van Buren coach John Petree has watched Loney progress and believes she will have a shot to wrestle in college. She’s become an example and should help the girls wrestling team grow.
“We’re hoping she’s the face of the franchise so to speak, helping to get more girls out,” Petree said. “She’s about as tough as they come.”
Loney lost in the finals of the 6A-West conference tournament and she admitted it hurt. But she
roared back to dominate her opponents in the state tournament.
“I was so heartbroken,” Loney said. “She definitely beat me, 100 percent. But I pulled myself together and beat some girls at state and feel better about it.”
Stafford was planning to compete in several national events but that’s been put on the back burner by the recent covid-19 pandemic. Those events include a third trip to Junior Nationals and trying to break through to the finals after finishing third each of the last two years.
“I’m still getting my work in,” Stafford said. “We just have to see how things lay out.”
Loney, on the other hand, is recovering from a back issue, which plagued her throughout the high school season and is hopeful of returning to action soon.
Paul Boyd can be reached at pboyd@ nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAPaulb.