Fast-rising First Baptist wrestling team boosted by Moder siblings
The competition in high school wrestling is fierce. It helps if you grow up in a competitive family.
First Baptist is entering the postseason with a new reputation but several grapplers who know what it’s like to reach the championship match.
That includes Christian Moder, who became the program’s first state champion last year, and his younger siblings Jonathan and Hailee, both state runners-up in 2022. As a team, the First Baptist boys finished second in Class 1A at the state tournament in its second season.
The Moders come from a line of wrestlers, including their father Shaun Moder, who wrestled at Naples.
“We’re always wrestling, always fighting each other – just how it was,” Christian Moder said.
That nature is not just limited to wrestling mats or even contact sports.
“We’ll play video games and (Jonathan) will just come in my room and, ‘You suck, I’m better than you,’” Christian Moder said. “Like, it’s everything.”
“Siblings are naturally competitive, but, yeah, they definitely are,” Shaun Moder said.
READ:First Baptist Academy becomes first private school in Collier County to add wrestling team
Christian, wrestling at 182 pounds in his senior season, will be going for his second consecutive state title.
A former Golden Gate wrestler, he recalled seeing the names of state champions on the wall and wanting to make history for himself.
He achieved that last season – not just for himself but for his program – when he won his championship bout at 170 pounds by 7-0 decision, wearing an FBA singlet.
“It feels like a big accomplishment, but there’s also a lot more work that needs to be done,” Christian said.
First Baptist head coach Mike DiGrigoli described Christian as a transcendent athlete.
“Christian is just exceptional in all phases of the sport,” he said. “He moves differently than any kid I’ve ever had.”
Moder is aiming to repeat as a state champion – and with an 11-2 record at the state tournament, it wouldn’t come as a surprise – but his plans extend beyond that.
“My goal is definitely to win a second state title, but I’m really focused after that – I’m looking toward nationals and college,” he said.
The First Baptist wrestling program began in 2020 during and because of the pandemic – what DiGrigoli described as a “perfect storm.”
“The biggest thing that makes FBA different if you’re a wrestler is that you’re allowed to compete as a middle schooler, and it’s a huge advantage,” DiGrigoli said.
Jonathan, a freshman, and Hailee, an eighth grader, have plenty of time to catch up to big brother – and valuable experience having already placed at states as middle schoolers.
Christian Moder's path was different, having started his high school wrestling career at Golden Gate before transferring ahead of his junior year.
“It definitely took some adjusting, but I take a lot of pride in it because it wasn’t easy getting here,” he said. "I know every kid in there grinded.”
Shaun Moder played an instrumental role in their development – and many more Southwest Florida wrestlers through local clubs in Collier County. He was on staff at FBA for the launch of the program along with several coaches familiar with the Moders from club wrestling.
“I give him all the credit because the development started when they were really young, so he’s like the architect of it all,” DiGrigoli said.
Shaun Moder started Christian and Jonathan early in the sport, while Hailee gradually developed her interest.
“It’s a great sport overall,” Shaun said. “It teaches a lot of good character, a lot of life lessons you can keep with you for a long time.”
DiGrigoli described the Moders as different kinds of wrestlers, but he noted a key similarity.
“The one thing the Moders are all known for is their top game,” he said. “When you wrestle a Moder, you’re going to get some real heavy riding and pretty tough (arm) bar-Half-Nelson pinning combination.”
This is most pronounced with Jonathan, who might not be the flashiest, but comes onto the mat with an opportunistic mindset.
“He knows his body position well,” DiGrigoli said. “He’s got a really good feel for the mat, a really good feel for his opponent.”
Hailee is newer to the sport – and the FHSAA’s sanctioning of high school girls wrestling last year came at the right time for her.
“She’s just coming along with it – it’s just been ingrained in her through her family travels and family lifestyle,” DiGrigoli said. “She’s tough, though. She’s a hammer.”
Last week, Hailee earned a district title after defeating a senior in the championship bout, pinning her opponent late in the third period.
“It gave me a lot (of confidence),” she said.
In just three years, FBA has built itself into a local wrestling power. The team even had some wrestlers transfer to Pennsylvania high schools to compete among the best nationally.
DiGrigoli explained that the singularity of what FBA offers has been key to the wrestling team's rapid growth.
“Once we announced we had wrestling, all those people that wanted a Christian education and they wanted to go to private school to do that, they had the opportunity to do that,” he said.
As a result of their success, the Lions will head into the postseason with more attention and expectations. The team already has a state champion in one Moder – and there’s power in numbers.
“I think they’re definitely going to try to follow behind,” Christian said of his siblings. “They’re definitely going to try to be up there with me.”
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: High school wrestling: Fast-rising FBA team boosted by Moder siblings
