Colin Hogan is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Liberty High School for AZPreps365.com

Picking up the sport of wrestling for the first time as an extra outlet his freshman year, Liberty’s Maddux Botma found a new love and can now forever call himself a state champion. 

In Botma’s senior season, he finished with a record of 46-2 and was crowned the Division 1 215-pound state champion in February. 

“I feel grateful and thankful that God has given me the ability to wrestle and the opportunity to put in all the work that I did to accomplish my goals,” Botma said. 

However, the path to becoming a state champion was far from linear. As a rookie to the sport, Botma had his work cut out for him if he ever wanted to see the mat.

Botma’s assistant coach Chris Petrie said that Botma was not born with the natural talent that some individuals are blessed with. However, he said what Botma does have is an incredible work ethic and determination. 

“No matter what he gives you everything and a little bit more,” Petrie said. “There is never a day off. There is never a match off. There is never a practice off.” 

For Botma, he said his work ethic stems from his parents. He said that seeing how hard they worked daily to create a strong and caring household allowed him to instill the same mindset.

The work ethic of Botma is evident when looking at his growth over the years. After not wrestling for varsity his freshman year, Botma earned a spot on the roster as the team’s 195-pounder as a sophomore. Botma finished that sophomore campaign 20-23 and made it to the state tournament.

Heading into his junior season, everything started to click for Botma. He moved up to the 215-pound class and thrived. Botma finished the season 31-15 and placed fifth in the D1 215-pound state bracket.  

Even with a fifth-place finish at state in his third year of wrestling, Botma said he was not satisfied. Liberty wrestling head coach Noah Gregorovic said when Botma left the mat his junior season he had one goal and one goal only -- and that was to win state. 

“In his entry interview before the season all he wrote was ‘I am going to win it,’” Gregorovic said.

His senior season kicked off with a trip to Iowa for a chance to compete in the preseason USA wrestling nationals. 

“It was an amazing opportunity,” Botma said. “There was a lot of good competition, but most importantly I was able to build bonds with my teammates.”

Botma ended up placing fourth, which earned him a spot on Flo Wresting’s preseason All-American rankings. It was the start of a long list of accolades Botma earned his senior year. 

Throughout his senior season, Botma continued to grow. Petrie said he does not think there was anything that could have stopped Botma from reaching his goal. 

“The reason why he was a state champion was not necessarily because he was the best technique wrestler, but because he was tougher and had more grit than anybody else on the mat,” Petrie said.  

Gregorovic said that Botma hopes to continue his senior season and compete at the National High School Coaches Association wrestling national tournament at the end of March. 

As for after high school, Botma said he would attend Arizona Christian University to continue his wrestling career. 

In three seasons of varsity wrestling, Botma finished with a record of 97-40 and three state tournament appearances. In just four years, Botma went from a newcomer to a preseason All-American and state champion because of his unmatched determination to be the best.

“Wrestling is my life,” Botma said.