SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — In Part 2 of our “Salute to Champions”, we put the spotlight on several state wrestling winners, including a trio of grapplers from Glenvar and a sophomore from James River who dislocated his shoulder not once, but twice in the final.

“It’s been a long life goal of mine since I was a little kid,” Christiansburg’s Brady Hand said after winning the 120 pound Class 3 title at the Salem Civic Center in February. “I used to come in here all the time when they had their finals and I’d watch and I’d be like ‘man, I really want to be in there. I gotta get this. No one can take this from me.'”

It’s a feeling that few athletes get to experience. The thrill of winning a state title. Hand earned his first as a freshman for the Blue Demons.

Meanwhile, Xaiden Wynn grabbed his first gold as a sophomore, but not without some pain along the way after dislocating his shoulder twice during the championship match in the 106 pound division.

“And next thing I know, I don’t even remember the match. Next thing I know, I’m pinning him,” Wynn said. “I’ve been wrestling him my whole life and it means a lot. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to be a state champion. And I’ve been training since I was four to be up there one day.”

Other titles came with relative ease. William Byrd’s Xavier Preston won the 175 pound title by a 15-3 decision while Liberty Christian’s Toby Schoffstall won by pinning his opponent in just 91 seconds.

But for Glenvar’s Jake Cline, his championship completed a story of redemption, returning to the top after losing in the state semifinals last year.

“Two times is always better. It feels amazing. People say when you win your first, it’s very important to win your first, it feels awesome. But this it’s like a whole other level,” Cline said,

The senior tied his dad (and head coach) Jason Cline, who was a two-time state champ at Grundy.

“I love that he’s always in my corner, always supporting and couldn’t have done it without him. Got me in the sport, push me every day. My dad is my biggest supporter for sure,” Cline said.

He wasn’t the only Highlander to win a state crown. Ethan Flowers earned the 175 pound Class 2 title and credited Cline for being there from the beginning.

“He was one of the people that got me into wrestlng, seventh grade, he told me to come out,” Flowers said. “He’s been there the entire time, we’ll fight in the wrestling room and everything but on the mat we’re brothers.”

And fellow Glenvar grappler Chase Miller won back-to-back championships with a win at 190 pounds.

“I had a pretty rough time. I called my coach in January and I missed half the season and he’s like hey you’re eligible to come back and I was like, might as well, I don’t know how good I’ll do,” Miller said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was six years old. Finally getting to this level and having success just means so much.”