??Wrestling season officially starts this month, but most of the Camp Verde wrestlers didn’t even notice.
They continually wrestle throughout the year, perfecting their moves and working on their strength, which makes them so good, particularly Ryan Allred and Joel Lobaugh, who will be the two biggest threats on the mat this season.
Allred, a nationally-ranked sophomore and the state champion in the 126-pound weight class as a freshman, started wrestling nine years ago, after a stint as a boxer.
“I started with boxing, but I got a lot of headaches,” Allred said. “So I started wrestling instead.”
Lobaugh is in his fifth year of the sport, starting in eighth grade because of friends who wrested before.
While Allred enjoys the individual aspect of the sport, Lobaugh enjoys the brotherhood it creates.
“When we all unite, we can do good, be a strong team,” Lobaugh said. “Knowing I have to be there for the team, that they’ve got my back and I’ve got theirs, that I can’t let them down is what keeps me motivated.”
The individuality, however, motivates Allred.
“If you lose, it’s your fault, if you win, the glory is all for you,” Allred said. “That’s what makes me like pushing my body to its limits. Also, my dad is a big part of my motivation.”
Despite the different motivators, both wrestlers earn their titles, don’t like having to cut weight all the time and
know they are coached by the best.
Most recently, the boys competed in the Megatron national tournament in
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 7, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
