Senior wrestler Stevie Gabb is in a stance with his body facing his opponent. He starts to hand fight and thinks quickly to try and find a way for him to get in a better position. Stevie pushes up his left arm suddenly and moves behind him to try to take him to the mat.

Gabb has wrestled at 285 lbs and has been on the varsity wrestling team all four years of high school. He has been wrestling since his seventh grade year for a total of six years. Gabb’s favorite memory is after the team won a tournament. Coach Wackerman came to the back of the bus and joined them in playing a game called “Brawl Stars” on their phones. Gabb feels that education is a priority when it comes to partaking in sports.

“Focus on your grades because that’s something that is very hard to fix,” Gabb said. “(It’s) a lot harder than how physical you are and how mentally good you are on the field. School is one thing that can hold you back.” 

Gabb won the individual championships from the Grain Valley Invite, Shawnee Mission Northwest Tournament, Independence City Quadrangular, Great Kansas City Suburban Conference Invite and Winnetonka Tournament. His record for his senior year currently is 38-3. Senior Dylan Reed met Gabb their ninth grade year on the first day of practice. Reed’s favorite memory with Gabb is every match Gabb goes up for, he always smacks his stomach. Reed feels that Gabb is a major contributor to the team.

“Stevie brings a lot of laughs and lots of joy to the team,” Reed said. “I hope Stevie does really good this season, I think he’s on track to bringing home the State Title.”

Gabb won the Class 3 District 8 Championship and finished fourth in the Class 2 Sectional 4 Tournament his junior year. Gabb and Senior Nathan Noda went out to IHOP and bonded. Noda thinks that Gabb brings a lot of leadership to the team.

“Gabb being one of the best kids on the team, got to show all the younger kids how to do everything right,” Noda said. “He’s just a good leader for the team.” 

Noda’s favorite memory with Gabb was when Gabb would tackle Noda and lay on top of him.

Throughout his four years of highschool, Gabb has had 127 total high school career wins. He is still undecided about what to do after high school. If he were to get college offers to wrestle or play football he said he would consider them.

Once Gabb is behind his opponent he does a slide by to a lifting mat return. He then breaks him down to a hammer lock for the pin. The two disengage and return to the center circle to continue practicing.