We’re excited to highlight Tre Haines as KRKO’s Russell & Hill Male High School Student Athlete of the Month for January. Haines, a three-time state champion, two-time U.S. Junior Nationals All-American selection, three-time U.S. Open Champion and ranked No. 50 in the nation at 157 pounds, discussed his wrestling journey and who played a role in his success. He also delved into his pre-match routine, developing self-confidence and his decision to pursue collegiate wrestling, all with his senior year still ahead of him this fall. Photos courtesy of KRKO Radio.
SCSC: What’s drawn you to the sport of wrestling?
Haines: It all started because I played football really hard, and one of my coaches was like, “Come try out wrestling.” And I tried it out. I’m more like a guy that likes really hard practices and is willing to do all the hard work, so I fell in love with the grind and going day after day having fun and having a close group of people, like a family. So it’s really fun to go have fun, go grind, have some blood, sweat and tears with your buddies.
SCSC: Was there a specific moment in your wrestling career that made you want to take the sport seriously and build your body so that you can last in matches that go into overtime?
Haines: It started when I was probably 11, 12. Before that, I’d wrestle tournaments in Washington, and my coach was like, “You should go to Tulsa and wrestle at this national tournament.” I went there; I did OK. And then I started watching more college wrestling and just seeing how everyone’s doing. I know a couple of four-timers, like Brandon Kaylor, he goes to Oregon State. And just seeing them wrestle made me like, “I could do this for a long period of time.” And I got the resources and the coaches to help me with that. So I’m like, “Might as well take it seriously now and hopefully become a four-time state champ and make the NCAA.”
SCSC: When you first walked into the mat room at Arlington and saw the plaques on the wall representing Arlington’s success, what about that sparked your interest to say, “I want my name on that wall”?
Haines: I’ve known Jonny Gilbertson and Kenny Sanders for a really long time. I was there my eighth-grade year, going to practices a little bit, just really realizing, “I could really make a name for myself. I could show everyone that Arlington has good wrestling.” I just really wanted to help support my community and where I’m from.
SCSC: Arlington moved to 4A this year. How was the transition not wrestling the [3A schools] and your common opponent is Lake Stevens quality? How did that prepare you to win state in a new classification?
Haines: I already knew Lake Stevens has won league championships for like 30 years. So moving up to 4A, I’m like, “We could, as a team, hang with them and get some good matches, and for me, wrestling kids I’ve never wrestled before and getting different looks and feels.” My main goal is still, “Go have some fun. Go mess some people up in state finals.” And it happened.
SCSC: What specifically has coach Gilbertson worked with you on as you’ve progressed from your freshman year to where you are now?
Haines: For my freshman year going to state, my mentality was like, “We have to wrestle these seniors.” He told me I could wrestle with anybody no matter who they are, how old they are, if they’re a senior, junior, whatever. Just go out there, have fun, wrestle my style, don’t wrestle their style, … don’t be scared, have fun on the mat, … just knowing that I can wrestle with whoever it is at what time at whatever weight.
SCSC: Do you have a pre-match routine or does it depend on the significance of a specific match?
Haines: I try to keep everything consistent. I have a mantra I say when I’m pacing. I say, “Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to compete. Thank you for giving me the power to win this match.” And then I just keep saying that, probably 50-60 times before a match. And then before the match, I touch my shoes and then give Jonny a nice, hard hand slap just to set the tone before I get on the mat. I try to do that every time and try not switch it up.
SCSC: Were there any matches that come down to the wire where you felt that you could possibly lose? What’s your mentality when it’s close?
Haines: This year, my finals match went into OT. Me, Jonny and also my club, we always practice, at whatever time, don’t make the moment too big, and just wrestle how’d you wrestle if it’s a first-round match. Going into overtime this year in finals, I was a little nervous. I almost got taken down in the third period. But at the start of OT, I’m like, “This is a regular match, just go wrestle how I wrestle.” And I got it done. The main goal is not to make the moment too big and get nervous and try not to lose, … always think to win.
SCSC: How do you balance a rigorous training schedule with your academics?
Haines: Thankfully, my club practices are pretty early, so I practice 5:30 to 7:30, so I usually come home, take a shower and then do homework for probably two-three hours and then go to bed. And if I need to do homework in the morning, I’ll wake up. I wake up pretty early because I work out, but I usually get some time to do homework then too.
SCSC: You’ve wrestled across the country under different coaches. What have they taught you, and how do you combine what they teach you into your own style?
Haines: They all have different styles, and not everyone is the same. So whenever they show moves or show us how they hit him, they always say, “You don’t have to hit the move how we hit them. Put your own little spin on them.” So all my clubs, we have different moves. I try them as funky as possible, try and make them look cool. But they all give me different ideas, so when I’m wrestling, I’m always going through, “I could hit this and this. I can hit this sweep to a double leg.” So they just give me different looks and options I could hit during the match.
SCSC: When you’re wrestling at places like Fargo and the U.S. Open, how are those matches in those environments different from high school?
Haines: It’s very different because high school, if you go to weekend tournaments, there’s not as many people. Going to U.S. Open [and] Fargo, there’s really good kids watching and college coaches, obviously. And wrestlers that I look up to like Jordan Burroughs, David Taylor, Bo Nickal, they’re there. So it’s a little nerve-racking at first, but after a couple times you go, you get used to them. … This year, I got to wrestle some D1 kids, beat some D1 kids up a little bit. But it’s really fun to just go out there and have fun because that’s when you could flying squirrel someone … and put on a show in front of everybody.
SCSC: With your senior year ahead of you, what went into the process of committing to the University of Arkansas?
Haines: Arkansas Little Rock has only had their wrestling program for seven-eight years, and they’re already ranked top 20 in the country. I like the coaches. They remind me of Jonny and Kenny. And then just going there for my visit, everyone’s so close to each other like such a close family, even if they’re freshmen and then seniors that are leaving, they’re super close and do everything together. When I was over there, we did some activities together, ate dinner together, had practices together. I just felt like I was already part of the family when I went there. … I just like how it’s not too big of a school, so there’s not too many distractions. And the coaches are ready for me to get there and hopefully go win an NCAA title.
SCSC: What are your goals for your senior season, aside from becoming a four-time state champion? Is there something personally that you’re trying to achieve outside of the medals?
Haines: Bringing more people to Arlington for wrestling. This year, we had a little more people at our duals, which is amazing. Really just having people come to Arlington and say, “You could go wrestle and you’re not going to get made fun of for wrestling because we’re actually really good.” Out of high school, [I’d like to] win Fargo, obviously. But the main goal is have everyone come in the community and make wrestling bigger than it is in Arlington.
SCSC: If you could look back on these past three years, what advice would you have given yourself as a freshman?
Haines: I would probably tell myself, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything.” Going my freshman year to state, everyone’s talking about me and Ethan wrestling in the semis. And I had a whole bunch of people tell me, “You’re going to lose.” Just walk in and don’t worry about whatever people say about you and just go have fun. It’ll pay off in the end.
SCSC: What do you enjoy most about the Arlington team? What’s the group dynamic?
Haines: We have this talk every year. Jonny, he’s like, “Wrestling’s probably the most individual sport, but it’s also a very team sport as well.” I can’t go win another state championship just by practicing by myself. I have to have someone helping me. … I personally would not be here without God. He’s done everything for me and He’s blessed me with everyone in Arlington. At Arlington, our faith is becoming really strong and just praying every practice and knowing that He’s always watching over us.