Liberty's two-sport Hulbert eyes state wrestling meet

Wrestling may not be Peoria Liberty senior Chase Hulbert’s No. 1 sport, but one could never know without being told.

After leading the Liberty football team in tackles during his junior and senior seasons — 134 in the first and 178 the next — he is hoping to qualify for his fourth wrestling state tournament by earning at least fourth place at sectionals on Saturday at Glendale Ironwood. If he qualifies, he will compete in the state meet on Feb. 11 and 12 at the Prescott Valley Event Center.

He has finished fourth in the state tournament every year, and he is looking to crack the top three this time.

This was the first time he did not have to cut weight to prepare for the season. Impressively, he weighs 205 pounds, but is wrestling at 220 pounds.

“Wrestling is just you and the other guy, there’s no one to point the finger at like football,” Hulbert said. “The big thing is learning to shoot to the outside instead of straight on. I’m wrestling in an upper weight class, so I have to beat guys with speed and athleticism.”

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Hulbert said wrestling provides him with different disciplinary lessons than football, which can be refreshing.

“If you can wrestle, you can do anything,” he said. “It’s all about maintaining your weight. Making sure you’re eating all the right stuff and training your butt off in the weight room.”

He also said he and the other team captains know the younger wrestlers look up to them and that they have seen noticeable strides from freshmen and sophomores.

It is all about setting the example, Hulbert said.

“I hope that what we do rubs off on the younger guys,” he said. “A lot of them are coming along very quickly, a lot quicker than we had all expected.”

Liberty coach Eric Brenton has been at the helm since 2005-06, when the school started a wrestling program with the first senior class coming in the 2009-10 season.

Brenton said he often feels like coaches are quick to tell their athletes what they are doing wrong, but do not focus on the positive. And because of this, he wrote a letter to Hulbert over the summer praising his leadership qualities.

He also said Hulbert is a team player, accepting responsibility for losses, but deflecting the credit after wins.

On the mat, he is strong, quick and athletic. But coachability is perhaps his best trait, Brenton said.

“I think he hates to lose more than he likes winning,” he said. “Chase is an extremely raw wrestler, but he’ll sit there and listen to you and then he’ll apply it. He learns from his failures and applies them in his next match.”

Liberty junior Noah Gregorovic said Hulbert is an uplifting presence and encourages the team whenever he gets the chance, always practicing what he preaches.

“He takes the criticism and responds to it well,” said Gregorovic, who wrestles at 120 pounds.

Liberty will be looking to capture a Division II state title and is the favorite after defeating two-time defending Division I state champion Mesa Mountain View earlier in the season.

Chandler Seton Catholic is another team expected to make a strong run for the D-II state title. Liberty beat Seton Catholic in the semifinals of the Steve Blackford Duals at Arizona State in late December before defeating Phoenix Thunderbird 48-15 in the finals.

And Hulbert, who is committed to play football at Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., is right in the team's success and state title hopes.

“I definitely want to go out making a name for myself,” he said.

AIA Sectional Wrestling

Friday-Saturday

Division I

Section I: Saturday at Chandler High

Section II: Saturday at Valley Vista High

Section III: Saturday at Mesa Mountain View High

Section IV: Saturday at Boulder Creek High

Division II

Section I: Saturday at Gila Ridge High

Section II: Saturday at Marana Mountain View High

Section III: Saturday at Campo Verde High

Section IV: Saturday at Ironwood High

Division III

Section I: Saturday at Bradshaw Mountain High

Section II: Saturday at Flowing Wells High

Section III: Friday at Youngker High

Section IV: Saturday at Tempe High

Division IV

Section I: Saturday at Winslow High

Section II: Saturday at Youngker High

Section III: Saturday at Mogollon High

Section IV: Saturday at Willcox High