Eleven grueling hours into the second day of the tournament, after countless hours spent cutting weight, whistles screaming, coaches shouting, he steps on the mat to check in for his final match of high school. Bodies are flying on the colorful mats to the left and the right as he shakes hands with his opponent for the last time and the whistle blows to start the final match.

Eighteen-year-old senior Max Brandt has been wrestling for 14 years in freestyle, greco-roman and folkstyle tournaments. In his senior year, he reached his 100 wins milestone in January and ended his career with the CPHS Wrestling program with 35 career pins and 28 wins by technical fall. 

Brandt’s four year career wrestling for Cedar Park High School has not been without its challenges and injuries. 

“This year I had to overcome having a torn labrum, which wasn’t the worst because I got used to the pain,” Brandt said. “But my mentality was definitely also a challenge. I had to keep reminding myself this is my last chance.”

Over his high school career, Brandt placed first in 13 tournaments, including placing second in the 2025 UIL Boys District Tournament and claiming the first place title at the 2025 UIL Boys Region Tournament. 

“At district, I got upset in the finals while trying to claim my third district title,” Brandt said. “After that match, I changed my whole life and started eating right, sleeping longer and working harder.”

Brandt ended his senior year wrestling his final match for the third place spot at the 2025 UIL Boys State Championship after qualifying for the past two years, but being unable to wrestle, and ultimately claiming the title.

“Placing at state as a senior felt amazing, relieving and somewhat sad that wrestling in high school had ended,” Brandt said. “But it was a huge weight lifted off my chest because everyone knew I could the two years prior and things happened that prevented me from placing, so this year was amazing.” 

As the State tournament approached, Brandt had to focus on maintaining his mindset and remembering to rely on his technique and years of training.

“Stepping onto the mat at state, I tried to remember to stick to my good stuff and don’t try new things,” Brandt said. “I had to remember to use the tools and moves I’ve practiced since I was four and I know I can do perfectly. Winning my last match at state, it didn’t hit me that I just wrestled my final high school match, but I was happy I ended my high school career with a victory.”

After 14 years in the sport, Brandt says wrestling has changed him as a person.

“Wrestling has changed me as a person in so many ways,” Brandt said. “It has changed my work ethic, my mindset going into hard tasks and even my mood meeting new challenges in life. It definitely made me take things more literally and put extra effort into things on and off the mat that might not need it, I’ll have that trait for the rest of my life now. My biggest inspirations are my friends Kane Sistrunk, Nathan Rechtfertig and my coaches Sheamus Burke and Mike Malliconico”

After he graduates high school, Brandt plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and plans to major in criminal justice while continuing to wrestle.

 “I plan to wrestle in college at the highest level I can and to the best of my ability,” Brandt said. “Wrestling has made me amazing friends from all over the state and country. I wouldn’t be able to work as hard as I’m capable of in school without wrestling and my friends.”