Unfortunately, this article does not cover the important events at the AAU Junior Olympics such as cup stacking or baton twirling – insert sarcastic tone here – but it does cover wrestling and the Colts who showed up for a fight.

Overall, the Colts did well in the competition that happened this summer.

“We took 8th place out of 26 teams” varsity wrestler Noah Saucedo, senior, said.

It wasn’t just a team competition though, wrestlers were also scored individually. Robin Kerbow, junior, placed in the individual tournament.

“I took 5th in the individual tournament,” he said. “I competed in the 12-men bracket.”

The Junior Olympics wasn’t just a walk in the park. It took time and dedication to prepare for such a vigorous competition. The wrestlers had to adjust and work on certain skills in order to compete.

“I had to work on my confidence the most,” Kerbow said. “Knowing that everyone out there would outclass and outmatch me, I just had to get over that fear and wrestle like I normally would.”

Saucedo concentrated on another factor to prepare for competition.

“Technique was one thing the team and I really had to work on,” he said. “Our team is a newer team this year so we really have to focus on technique.”

Even though the Colts didn’t pull out a win, the wrestlers improved in many areas during the competition.

“We got a lot of good quality mat time against opponents that are legitimately good athletes and good wrestlers,” Henry Harmoney, varsity wrestling coach, said. “Mat time is very important in getting better.”

The team hopes to attend the AAU Junior Olympics next summer in 2017 when it will be held in Detroit, Michigan. Their district season begins on November 11 with a meet in A gym.

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Sarah Starnes

Asia Ray, senior and the only female wrestler to attend the AAU Junior Olympics, won in her division.