Champions Rise at Mullen: Two Individual State Champions Emerge

by Patrick Motter, Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
Different sports. Different journeys. One common thread: The Mustang commitment.

At Mullen High School, excellence isn’t an accident; it’s a standard. This winter, that standard was on full display as two student-athletes delivered championship performances on Colorado’s biggest stages.
  • Natalie Bradac ’27 captured the Girls’ Swimming & Diving State Championship in the 50M Freestyle and finished second in the 100M Breaststroke.
  • Isaak Chavez ’26 claimed the 3A 175-pound Wrestling State Championship, on top of earning a state ring as a member of the Boys’ Soccer State Championship team.

Natalie Bradac ’27
State Champion – 50M Freestyle | State Runner-Up – 100M Breaststroke

In swimming, the 50 freestyle is over in a blink. Less than 25 seconds of controlled chaos. One breath too many. One slip on the start. One mistimed turn. That’s the difference between first and fourth.
Natalie Bradac understands that better than most.

“The 50 free is always such a close race,” she shared. “Sometimes it comes down to hundredths.” With no margin for error, Natalie approached the race with focus and freedom, no expectations, just execution. The result? A state championship.

She didn’t stop there. In the 100M breaststroke, an event demanding both power and precision, Natalie surged to a second-place finish, setting her sights firmly on returning next year to claim both titles and keep the legacy of Mullen Swimming going strong. 

Swimming has been part of Natalie’s life since she was four. The youngest of four siblings, she grew up in the water alongside her family before competing at the club level. But at Mullen, she’s found something more than competition.

She found community.

“I love our coaches. They make the whole team environment so close,” she said. 
“Even though swimming can be such a hard and demanding sport, everyone at Mullen shows up. Not just in attendance, but they show up for one another and give their best during the practice, all with a positive attitude. People often think swimming is an individual sport, but at Mullen, I’ve found the team aspect of swimming through my coaches and teammates’ support.” 

That positivity fuels performance. It builds resilience. And it’s exactly why Natalie encourages others, even those new to the sport, to join the team.

Her next goal? Swim in college. She’s already navigating the recruiting process. And if her trajectory continues, this state title will only be the beginning.

Isaak Chavez ’26
Wrestling State Champion | Soccer State Champion

Three days. One final walk off the mat as a senior.
Isaak Chavez set a goal, left it all on the mat, and came out victorious.

Competing in the CHSAA 3A 175-pound division, Isaak battled through the bracket to claim his second individual state championship, adding to a previous title at 157 pounds. The victory marked a powerful closing chapter to his wrestling career at Mullen.

“It meant a lot,” Isaak said. “My whole team, my coaches, my parents — everyone has supported me. To finish strong and see them all in the stands… that’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
But Isaak’s impact extends beyond wrestling.

He was also a key contributor to Mullen’s Boys’ Soccer State Championship team, making him a two-sport state champion in the same year. That level of versatility speaks to discipline, time management, and an uncommon competitive drive.

Next stop: the University of Pennsylvania.

An Ivy League wrestler with aspirations in business, pre-med, or possibly AI engineering, Isaak chose Penn for both its academic rigor and its wrestling program. “Academics are number one for me,” he explained. “After wrestling, I want to build a strong foundation for my future.”
His foundation also includes faith.

Before every match, Isaak steps to the side of the mat, secures his ankle band, and says a prayer. “I give everything to God,” he said. “Without Him, I don’t think this would have been possible.”

Legacy matters to Isaak. As he graduates, he leaves behind a simple standard for the wrestling program: keep working. Hard work beats talent a lot of the time. When others don’t want to put in the work, Mullen student-athletes do.

The Mullen Standard

What do these two champions have in common?
  • Demanding schedules.
  • Teachers who support student-athletes.
  • Coaches who build culture, not just competitors.
  • And a belief that excellence requires intention.
At Mullen, being a student-athlete isn’t about balancing two worlds. It’s about integrating them. Discipline in the classroom. Drive in competition. Character in victory.

Natalie is just getting started. Isaak is graduating as a two-time individual state champion and Ivy League commit.

Both represent what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

And both remind us of something powerful: Champions aren’t defined by medals alone.
They’re defined by the standards they uphold and the legacy they leave behind.
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