Evening workouts on garage wrestling mat helps Gilreath to 2nd state title

Yahoo

20-02-2025

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Just a junior, Evangel 150 lbs. wrestler Joe Gilreath is already a two time state champion, but just days after pinning his way through the 2025 LHSAA State Tournament, his eyes are set on a three peat.
Total domination, that's the only way to describe Joe Gilreath's performance in the state tournament. A normal wrestling match is six minutes long, Gilreath won four matches at state and spent just 5:42 on the mat, for the entire tournament.
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'I walked over to my coaches and just gave them a big hug and then it kind of hit me right after that, I was like I won state twice,' said Gilreath.
It's his 2nd state title, and also the 2nd time he was able to jump into his dad arms in celebration, a tradition for the Gilreath family that started with Joe's older brother Mike.
'That moment of lifting them is recognition for all of the hard work. Of course if they happen to come up short the hug after would be no less special, a little more painful, maybe bittersweet,' said Joe's dad Todd. 'It's euphoric to lift them after such a big moment.'
The moment never seems to be too big for Joe but 184 career wins doesn't happen by accident. The Gilreath's have a wrestling mat in their garage and it's all the extra work in that home wrestling room that's led to the high level of success.
'All of it. I wrestled my dad and with my brother, a three time state champion,' said Gilreath. 'Iron sharpens iron, it's one of those things you cherish it, it's frustrating at times. There are times we've both gotten frustrated with each other but it's all worth it in the end.'
'This is where we really bond,' said Todd. 'These moments though, being on the mat, it's sacred it's not time that I'd give up for anything.'
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Joe is a junior so it's not something Todd is going to have to give up just yet. They've got another year of hard work in that garage, and they'll get lots of time together as Joe has even bigger goals for his senior season.
'I've been getting what I wanted but I want more than that,' Gilreath said. 'I want to go for three, maybe even a national championship.'
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