Competition Accolades
All 14 wrestlers placed and four athletes earned the title of Individual Champion in their weight class.
Pine Creek also made history by setting a new record for most team points scored at Metros. The record was 314 points and our team finished the tournament at 322 team points!
Girls Wrestling
An extra shout-out to Pine Creek’s lady wrestlers, Victoria and Adriana who are on our District Girls Team, housed out of Discovery Canyon. All won this past weekend and are Metro Champions as well!
Strong Leadership: A Look at Journey of Head Coach, Billy Gabel
The Pine Creek High School Boys Wrestling Team is in its 22nd year under the direction of Head Coach, Billy Gabel.
Coach Gabel started wrestling at the age of three with guidance from his dad who was a high school head wrestling coach and ran a wrestling club for kids. “I grew up in and around the sport, watching practices, traveling to wrestling tournaments, and watching athletes compete,” Coach Gabel said.
The Value of Goal-Setting
When Coach Gabel was in 4th grade his dad asked him what he wanted to accomplish in high school wrestling. Without missing a beat, Coach Gabel aimed his sights high: he said he wanted to be a four-time high school state champion. From that point on, he worked hard to gain the knowledge, skill level, and strength necessary to move towards his goal. “Wrestling demands hard work and a no quit attitude,” Coach Gabel said. “When you are out there competing, there is no one else to blame or point fingers at. You are accountable for how you perform.”
Putting in the Work
Slowly his hard work started to pay off. He was undefeated in his League his Sophomore year through Senior year of high school. His Senior year he was 35 - 0 with 30 pins, 2 technical falls, 2 major decision, and one decision. He was also a two-time Fargo All-American, beating two future Olympians in this tournament.
In February 1996 Coach Gabel realized his dream and he became the first four-time high school 3-2-1A State champion in Kansas state the history. “There is nothing more satisfying than getting your hand raised at the end of a match knowing your training and sacrifice paid off.” Coach Gabel said.
Wrestling as a Next Level Athlete
After high school Coach Gabel accepted a scholarship to wrestle at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Three years he opted to transfer to Oklahoma State University where he wrestled Varsity for the Cowboys. After graduating from college, he wrestled in an open tournament in Brighton, Colorado, tore his ACL in the semi-finals, but went on to finish and win the tournament. After this he found himself content with his successes as an athlete and decided to retire his wrestling shoes so he could focus on coaching.
Life as a Wrestling Coach
Coach Gabel worked as a high school teacher and assistant wrestling coach in Kansas for a year after graduating from college and got a position at Pine Creek the year afterward.
Although he enjoys the technical side of coaching, when asked what the best part of coaching is, Coach's Gabel said: "Speaking into each life, and finding the little things that motivate each athlete. Meeting them (wrestlers) where they are at - the good and the bad - and pouring into their hearts, is what makes this profession so powerful. These kids are like my own children. My desire is to coach them in a way where no matter the level of success in high school, they go out into society and become people."
Want to join the Pine Creek Wrestling Team?
Contact Coach Gabel.
