Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. The sport of wrestling has been around for thousands and thousands of years. It has been used in battle as well as in sporting competitions from Asia to Europe to America. Wrestling is often recognized as one of the world’s oldest competitive sports. It is on the Olympic stage as well as in middle schools.

Nederland Middle School offers wrestling as an interscholastic sport. It is open to all sixth, seventh and eighth graders. It is an introduction to the sport for most kids. This season there are five students on the team, Robbie Akerley, Ricky Fortunato, Mary Jeanne Jarril, Jakob Osborne and Haven Vernon. They are coached by Brian Hutchison. 

Coach Brian has been wrestling since he was eight years old and has coached middle and high school wrestling in New Jersey and Colorado. 

Coach says that he stresses the basics. Not the flashy moves but the highly effective ones. He really puts a lot of emphasis on the why and how of the moves. As the kids gain more experience, they will then be able to adapt to the constantly changing situations within a wrestling match. 

Wrestling is a very tough sport physically and mentally and the kids are gaining more confidence as their skills improve. Coach Brian says, “This group has really shown that their strength is being quick learners and absorbing much of what I throw at them. They are like sponges.”  

The team travels to Monarch K-8, Nevin Platt Middle School and Southern Hills Middle School for wrestling meets with other BVSD teams. The final tournament will be held at Southern Hills Middle School in Boulder on March 4, 2020. 

The team is placing well at their meets and after spending a little time at one of their practices, I can see that they love what they are learning. Good luck Nederland wrestlers!

(Originally published in the February 27, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)