Brandon Litten had a phenomenal season on the mat in 2011-2012. The Marcus wrestler advanced to the region and state meet, and got all the way to the championship match at state before losing to Keller Central’s Greg Wilson 10-6 in the 182 pound weight class.
Well, it’s a new year, possibly a new weight class, and for Litten, a new perspective on what he plans to do to accomplish his ultimate goal of winning a state title.
“I thought I had a great year last year, personally, but I was not satisfied,” Litten said. “I wasn’t satisfied because I didn’t get first. That was my whole goal going through the year was to win a state title.”
The Marcus senior said he embraces his role as one of the team leaders and does what he can to set a good example for his teammates and show them that practice pays off.
“I just try to bring a good work ethic,” Litten said. “I try to get everybody to work hard and do what they can to be their best.”
Litten said he has three major objectives for the coming season, one of which involves a teammate and friend he hopes will come along for the ride to a state title.
“Obviously, I want to win a state championship,” Litten said. “I also want to get one of my good friends, Josh Hood, to the state tournament with me. I would really just like to dominate throughout the season as well.”
Litten could be wrestling in the 195 pound weight class and said he anticipates Allen’s Nick Cobb, the defending state champion in that class to be his biggest competition this year.
Litten has never faced Cobb in a match before.
He said he hopes to compete in wrestling at the next level and then see where the sport takes him from there.
“I am definitely looking to wrestle in college,” Litten said. “I am not sure how far it will carry on beyond that, but we will see.”
Litten has already been approached by the Colorado School of Mines to wrestle.
Coach Mike Prado said there are a number of things that make Litten a good wrestler, but said that one quality is the most important, and it just so happens to be the quality his 195 pounder most possesses.
“I think he understands that wrestlers have to work hard, and he has that work ethic,” Prado said. “You have some kids that you have to push, and then you have some kids that can really push themselves. If they’ve got that motivation to win and work hard, that is hard to find.
“It is really good for me as a coach to know that I will never have to worry about that. He worked very hard from the time he got here, and it paid off for him last year with a trip to state. He is going to work even harder this year.”
Prado said the big question for Litten at this point is if he will in fact wrestle in a heavier weight class this year, or try to remain at 182, which Prado said could improve his chances of capturing the title.
“We want a state championship, and we really need to see where we stack up,” Prado said. “We’re kind of at a weight between where our weight from last year and the 195 pound class, so we are going to see where our natural weight puts us.
“The 195 pounder is a kid from Allen that has won three state titles, so basically we are in the position we were in last year with Greg Wilson, who was going through his third title…I think that if we wrestle at 182, we would be the favorite. It is going to be tough either way.”
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