DULUTH — Four years ago, Archer wrestling coach Tom Beuglas knew he had a special freshman class. If things went their way, the program could possibly win four straight state championships.

All of that came true on Saturday at the Infinite Energy Arena.

Archer had eight state places, including three state champions to score 172.5 points and easily claim the Class AAAAAA traditional state championship. It was their fourth straight state title.

“When the Bullards and Diaz were freshman, I thought we could win it four times,” Beuglas said. “You look at the big picture, it’s hard to swallow all of the success they have had.”

Chris Diaz and Thomas and Daniel Bullard helped fuel Archer’s grip on Class AAAAAA the last four years. In additional to win four traditional state titles, the Tigers also claimed four dual state championships, which included never losing a dual meet the last four years.

“I love my team. These past four years, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Diaz said. “These guys are the hardest working guys in the state. I love my teammates.”

Archer won 12 tournaments this season and the only one they lost was the Kansas City Stampede when the Tigers were runner-up. Archer was consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation, including No. 18 by USA Wrestling.

“That was when our rash of injuries started,” Beuglas said.

Archer lost two of its top wrestlers for the season due to injury in January. Vinny Artigues, a state runner-up a year ago, and nationally ranked Jacob Lill. Quinn Miller suffered a back injury, but was able to return to the lineup.

That forced Archer to use a different lineup each week, but it allowed some younger wrestlers to gain some experience. Gabriel Lee was put in the lineup at 160 and made his way all the way to the state finals as a runner-up.

“Lee lost by one. As a freshman we were excited he got second,” Beuglas said.

But the backbone of Archer was the Bullard’s and Diaz and all three have signed to wrestling at N.C. State next season.

Daniel and Thomas finished their high school careers the first twin brothers to win four individual state championships each.

“That’s my first time having a four-time state champion and I got two in one day,” said Beugals, who has been coaching for 23 years. “To do that you have to not be injured, sick or upset. I was pretty happy to have the opportunity to coach them.”

After losing in the state finals as a freshman and sophomore, Diaz emerged as a back-to-back state champion.

“After losing my freshman and sophomore year, to finally be here and go through everything it feels great,” Diaz said.

Archer’s other state placers were Lee and Miller (220) as runner-ups, while Gavin Smith (120) was third, Logan Smith (132) was fifth and Chase Degrenier (152) was sixth.

“A couple of guys we didn’t expect to be there made it,” Diaz said. “They made the jump and they will be back.”

Now that the Bullards and Diaz are graduating, the tough part for the Archer program is to find a way to win a fifth straight title.

Collins Hill was the last to do it from 2008-12.

Archer will return five state placers next season.

“A lot of people think once we leave, Archer is going to be down,” Diaz said. “We still have a lot of good guys on the team.”

Archer’s Thomas Bullard shakes hands with head coach Tom Beuglas after defeating Hillgrove’s Carlin Powell in this year’s Class AAAAAA 160-pound weight class at the Macon Centreplex. (Photo: Kyle Hess)

 

#The brothers, key components in the Tigers’ sweep of the traditional and duals state championships the past three seasons, are both among the country’s top wrestlers. Thomas is ranked second nationally at 160 pounds and Daniel is ranked fourth at 170. They chose N.C. State over Iowa State, Cornell, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina.

#“I am very proud of both of these young men,” Archer head coach Tom Beuglas said of the brothers, who are 4.0 GPA students in almost all Advanced Placement classes. “They are winners in every sense of the word. In the classroom, in the wrestling room and they are perfect gentlemen off the wrestling mat. They have been a pleasure to coach these last three years. Their positive attitude makes them a lot of fun to be around, and they are very supportive of the younger wrestlers and the team.

#“They are what a champion should be. They are deserving of every accolade that they are receiving and I know that N.C. State University is getting two fantastic student-athletes. Full scholarships in wrestling are very hard to come by. The coach there will not be dissappointed.”

#Daniel has a 114-9 record at Archer, and Thomas has a 110-8 career mark. Both are three-time state champions for the Tigers.

#Thomas is a three-time national champion and Daniel is a two-time national champion with a third-place finish to his credit. Thomas also won the Super 32 title and Daniel was first in the Powerade tournament