Transgender wrestler Mack Beggs preparing for men's college wrestling career

The only thing on the mind of hundreds of wrestlers across Texas is placing first at next week's state championship.

Mack Beggs, a male transgender wrestler from Euless Trinity High School has something else on his mind. After crediting his teammates and discussing an undisclosed, lingering injury, he wanted to make one thing clear.

"This is what I want everyone to know: Everyone might be saying state, but I am not looking forward to state. I am looking forward to college. I am looking forward to being on a men's team, in a men's division, working on my take-downs, being as strong as the guys. I'm already a couple of years behind, so I have a lot to catch up on."

In fact, in an interview with the Dallas Morning News this past week. Beggs said he had received a non-Division I scholarship offer from an unnamed program. Although more could be on the way.

Beggs already has a state title under his belt, only it's not against the gender he identifies with. Last year, he compiled a perfect 56-0 record and won the Class 6A girls state championship at the 110-pound weight class.

And while he's always wanted to compete against the boys, UIL rules mandate that participants must compete against the gender that appears on their own birth certificate.

This year, he's put together another undefeated record and absolutely dominated the girls Class 6A Region II tournament at Allen High School, thus earning another bid to the state tournament.

In this year's quarterfinals, it took Beggs just four minutes and 28 seconds to win in a fall over Lewisville High School’s Elyse Nelson. In the semifinals, he was even better, pinning Lewisville Flower Mound’s Nicole Matera in 1 minute and 40 seconds.

In Saturday's final, he defeated Coppell High School junior Khushi Khandelwal by pinfall in five minutes and 56 seconds.

Over time, the number of Beggs’ critics have grown, particularly when Beggs' monthly testosterone injections of less than a milliliter became public information.

This weekend, though, not one of over a dozen opposing wrestlers, coaches, fans or parents wanted to talk about Beggs.

At his state tournament win at there were many cheers - and some boos. This time around, the sound coming from a crowded gym at Allen was a noticeable silence. It might actually be preferable to controversy.

And for Beggs, next weekend's state tournament is just a partial validation along his journey on and off the mat.

"I've trained too hard for hard for haters to put me down," he said.

This story was originally published February 17, 2018 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Transgender wrestler Mack Beggs preparing for men's college wrestling career."