Hibler, a Pound Ridge resident, was preparing for the Section 1 Kids Wrestling Championships/State Qualifier, which was the day after his birthday. Hibler made up for missing out on his cake by giving himself a present – the bantam title.
“I felt good,” said Hibler of winning. “After I won, I still can’t have any birthday cake because I am in training for states now. Because I won in sectionals, I feel that I have a good chance to do better at states this year.”
Last year, Hibler finished fifth at the sectional tournament and seventh in the state.
“I was a little nervous because I wanted to do better than I did last year,” said Hibler, a second-grader. “Sectionals was the day after my birthday and I wanted to be undefeated.”
Hibler, who went 3-0 in the tournament, first began wrestling when he was 5. He said his father took he and his brother, Leni, to Fox Lane for youth wrestling. Leni finished fourth in the 75-pound weight class
“I liked the action and the training,” Hibler said.
Hibler is currently wrestling with the New Canaan Youth Wrestling Club. He has also wrestled with the Iowa Style Wrestling School and formerly with the Max Askren Wrestling Academy.
The Hibler brothers will be competing in the USA Kids State Folkstyle Wrestling Championships will be March 1-3 at Bay Shore (L.I.) High School.
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