Kaplan 's Adam Gaspard brings home rare state wrestling title

KAPLAN - Kaplan High School has its share of state titles in different sports. But one it may not have in this modern era is an individual wrestling state title.
The wrestling program, in its fourth year of existence in the modern era at Kaplan, has its first individual wrestling champion.
Junior Adam Gaspard brought home first place in the 126-weight class. Gaspard came into the state wrestling tournament this past weekend as the No. 3 seeded wrestler in his weight class.
To get to the finals, he first had to beat North Vermilion’s Alex Beraud, who was seeded No 2. Gaspard had wrestled Beraud this year and never beat him.
The two met in the semifinal match Saturday morning. This time, the result would be different. Gaspard stunned everyone.
“After I beat Alex, I knew I could win the state title,” said Gaspard. “I have been working hard and it paid off.”
After the Saturday morning win, Gaspard began focusing on his next challenger, Zack Vinson of Basile. Vinson came into the match seeded No. 1. He spent the day relaxing and getting his mind focused for the match.
Gaspard said he was confident he could beat Vinson because they beat each other during the year.
“I knew if I beat him once, I could do it again,” said Gaspard.
In the last period of the match, Gaspard said he began tasting victory when he was up by four points. Time ended and the title was his. It was Kaplan’s only state title that day.
“It felt so good to win. I hugged my coaches and everyone else,” said Gaspard. “I felt so pumped. I am so happy all of that hard work paid off.”
Gaspard began wrestling when he was a freshman. He weighed less than 100 pounds and struggled to win his matches his freshman year. However, the first match he won his freshman year, gave him the taste of victory. He wanted more and trained hard.
Kaplan’s wrestling coach Stephen Lotief convinced Adams to wrestle when he was a freshman as a way to improve his football skills.
“Adam had a great game plan and let his conditioning and wrestling technique win the final match,” said Lotief. “Adam is an overachiever. He puts his mind to something and gets to work.”

Kaplan High top 5 finishers.
Weight Class
126 – Adam Gaspard, 1st
138 -- TJ Broussard, 3rd
145 --- Dylon Case, 3rd
160 --- Trae Case, 2nd
170 -- Jade Hebert, 3rd
182 -- Julius Johnson, 3rd
195 -- Austin Stelly, 4th

The Kaplan wrestling team finished sixth overall.
Trae Case, a sophomore, finished second for the second year in a row. Lotief said he is proud of how well Case wrestled.
Kaplan had four third place finishers (T.J Broussard, 138-pound weight class), Dylon Case (145 pound weight class), Jade Hebert (170-pound weight class) and Julius Johnson (182-pound weight class).
“The entire wrestling team over achieved,” said Lotief. “To become a state placer with limited resource, wrestling experience is phenomenal. Most kids that place in the tournament have been wrestling since elementary school.
“That is what makes North Vermilion and Kaplan place winners that much more satisfying.”