Mario Chagolla Sr. pretty much only has time for one pastime. Wrestling.
Chagolla has been involved with the sport since his youth.
“My brother and I all wrestled at Peoria,” Chagolla said. “We took four team state championships.”
Born and raised in Peoria, today Chagolla lives in Camp Verde where he continues to help create new generations of championship wrestlers.
Chagolla has been coaching wrestling here for kids of all ages since 1992.
Chagolla said he got into wrestling early on.
“It’s pretty much a family tradition,” Chagolla said. “All my uncles wrestled so I did, too.”
Chagolla said he left Peoria for Camp Verde because it was getting too busy down there with urban growth ever expanding along with getting more crowded.
“It used to be what Camp Verde is now,” Chagolla said. “I felt a calling that this is God’s country. I moved up here and started all over again.”
Chagolla said he doesn’t regret the decision.
“I love it here,” Chagolla said.
He moved up here with his wife, Socorro, who he has been married to for nearly four decades.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 30, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
