Chandler senior Dalton Brady, right, won the Folkstyle national title to complete a fantastic high school career that saw him win four Arizona state titles before he heads to Utah Valley State this fall.
Photo courtesy of Ahwatukee Foothills News
The high school season might be over, but the national wrestling events have been in full swing.
And once again Arizona athletes are holding their own.
Arizona had two national champions at the Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the first weekend of April.
Chandler senior Dalton Brady, a four-time state champion, took the 132-pound junior national title and
Mesa two-time state champion Ben Andrew won the junior 220-pound national title.
"It meant that all my hard work finally paid off for my most important goal so far," Brady said.
The success stories didn't stop there, as
Ironwood Ridge (Tucson) competitor Danny Vega finished second at 100 pounds in Cadet and
Corona del Sol (Tempe) wrestler Bridger Barker was second at Cadet 170.
The other junior placers were Chandler brothers Tristan Moran (fifth place, 126 pounds) and Dalton Moran (sixth place, 145).
Mesa senior Ben Andrew, right, continuedthe dominance he showed inArizona at the national level by winning the220-pound Folkstyle National title.
Photo courtesy of Ahwatukee Foothills News
The cadet All-Americans were Anthony Wokasch of
Queen Creek (fifth place, 132), Phoenix Hollen of
Mountain View (Mesa) (fifth place, 195 pounds) and Ironwood Ridge's Alfredo Calzadillas (seventh, 120).
The 2013 High School Nationals in Virginia Beach was held the same weekend and Arizona had another great showing in the junior and sophomore age groups.
In the juniors, three kids came home as All-Americans: Jacob Reyes of
Valley Vista (Surprise) (eighth place, 106), Corona del Sol's Ethan Tursini (sixth place, 160) and Trey Ronayne of
Basha (Chandler) (seventh, 170).
For the sophomore class it was
Sunnyside (Tucson) wrestlers Juaquin Olivas (fourth place, 113) and Jesse Villegas (seventh place, 152) who earned All-American status along with Mesa Mountain View's Blake Monty (seventh place, 145).
Then this past weekend former Arizona state champion Garrett Ryan, who wrestled his senior year for
Wyoming Seminary College Prep (Kingston, Pa.) after leaving Horizon, finished fifth at the Fila Juniors in Las Vegas.
"We are building this state slowly but eventually it will be a powerhouse state," said Brady, who is headed to Utah Valley.
This time of year kids are competing for wrestling clubs and none have produced more talent than Sunkist. The club has been responsible for the growth of the sport in Arizona for decades and it is paying off more than ever.
"I would honestly say Sunkist Kids is helping a lot with the growth of the state, along with my growth as well," Brady said.
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothills News staff writer, is a 18-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
