CLEVELAND, Tenn. — There could be a happy ending after all.
Bradley Central wrestlers Vincent and Chris Aguilar have known their share of setbacks. The California natives moved here during their middle school years when their parents decided the South might not be as fast-paced as San Diego.
Two years ago while the twins were wrestling in a tournament in Huntsville, Ala., with their parents in the stands shortly before Christmas, the family’s house burned to the ground.
“Nobody was hurt and we were able to celebrate Christmas together. That was the big thing,” Chris recalled.
Both reached the traditional state tournament last year, and Chris finished third. He was voted most athletic among senior superlatives and Vincent was named to the court for the school’s Valentine’s Day dance Saturday night.
Chris sustained a separated shoulder that limited his wrestling one year. He also went through a stage of class-skipping last year that almost cost him his spot in the region wrestling tournament. Vincent endured a bout with osteomyelitis that hospitalized him during his freshman year and staph infections during his sophomore and junior seasons that forced him to practice with tape covering a tube in his upper chest.
They wrestled with and then through each challenge.
Their resolve was tested again, though, at this year’s state duals in Franklin. Vincent was winning his 145-pound match when he suffered a dislocated elbow. Faced with wrestling the following match at 152 pounds, Chris came through with a pin that all but sewed up the Bears’ third straight duals championship.
“I was warming up for my match when he got hurt. I was shocked,” Chris said. “There was so much running through my mind, but the coaches told me to keep my mind on my business. I was thinking about that state championship.”
Vincent was transported to Vanderbilt University hospital. Bradley coach Steve Logsdon and the team were elated to win the state title, but their thoughts were with Vincent.
“I’m happy that we won, but my heart was with Vincent because he’s such a good kid,” Logsdon said.
The coach and most others felt Vincent’s career was over. The Bradley staff had planned challenge matches to see who would take the senior’s spot at the Region 3 tournament, which starts late this afternoon at Alcoa.
Here he had made it through a football season, winning the team’s first Robbie Tyler pride award as a cornerback, with no serious injuries, and then this freak accident happened.
Aguilar’s parents took him to a local sports orthopedist and got the best of news. Doctors at Vanderbilt had gotten the elbow back in place and there was no ligament or tendon damage. He was cleared to wrestle.
“I thought I was done for the season. I thought I had lost the championship for us,” Vincent said. “But I believe God has a plan for everyone, so I don’t worry about the bad things.”
That seems to be the Aguilar way.
“When our house burned down, the community helped out a lot, and those times were a changing point when we actually got closer with a lot of guys on the team. They were there when we needed them,” Chris said. “Everything happens for a reason. I try not to worry about things.
“Coach Logsdon said you try to have good days and great days. If you’re having a bad day, you try to make it good.”
So this weekend will be good days for the Aguilars as they try to secure repeat performances for next weekend’s state tournament.
Recounting his first encounter with the brothers, Logsdon said, “I had heard about a couple of twins at Ocoee Middle that liked to wrestle, but I had not met them because of regulations that prohibit me from going to Ocoee Middle to talk with kids. I met them when they got here, and I liked them right away because they had grit and they liked to compete.
“Both of them learned pretty quick that work equates to success. They’re great kids to have around.”
He’s hoping they can enjoy state medals presentations in Franklin eight days from today.