The wrestler who does not wrestle with family, or against, is becoming the outlier at the Sterrett Wrestling Complex.
“Many of our wrestlers are brothers or sons of former greats, to continue what some consider the breeding of studs,” said Mario Chagolla Sr., director of New Breed Wrestling and Weekend Wars. “Standing there all alone without mama, papa or anyone by your side to help you do battle is overwhelming.”
Whether it’s Chagolla’s 195-pound son Favian — a Camp Verde High School freshman who finished first in his weight class — the five Uhler brothers, all but one of whom won their weight class, or Camp Verde Elementary School students Dale and Hunter Zellner, wrestling families owned the majority of Weekend Wars wins July 11.
One notable exception: Brody Townsend, a sixth-grader at Camp Verde Middle School, who emerged to pin eight of his 10 opponents for his fifth win in a row in the 60-pound weight class.
“Brody’s attacks have become more aggressive and yet [have] finesse,” Chagolla said. “He still gets frustrated when someone takes him down but is now able to channel all his energy and focus on the task at hand.
“The result is a technically sound beast [who is] extremely dangerous, coming at you … to bring down the thunder.”
After finishing third in his initial Weekend War on March 23, Townsend pinned eight of his 10 opponents July 11 at the Sterrett Wrestling Complex to take his fifth win in a row at 60 pounds July 11.
“I wrestled 63 [pounds] — that was the lowest class there was,” he said. “I plan on wrestling 68.”
Third-grader Racer Uhler, at 50 pounds, introduced Townsend to his first coach in Chagolla on March 23, when he finished third in his Weekend Wars debut. He hasn’t finished lower than runner-up since.
“I just try my best every tournament and work hard in practice,” Townsend said. “I wanted to start coming and try it out.”
Townsend credits much of his success to new moves Chagolla and other Camp Verde wrestling coaches have taught him to use on opponents, such as the cradle.
For the full story and Weekend Wars results, please see the Wednesday, July 22, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
