The mountain within Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall consists of eight platforms. Cade Collins landed on one of the lower ones last year, placing seventh at 106 pounds as a freshman.

This season, making the jump to 120 pounds – where more juniors and seniors reside as opposed to freshmen and sophomores – meant potentially running into more-experienced and skilled wrestlers along the way. The deeper into the bracket, the bigger the likelihood that he’d run into a previous state champ or finalist.