“To me, wrestling is more than just a sport, and it has taught me more than wrestling. Thanks to the coaches, I’ve been able to achieve things I never thought I would be able to. Not only have I become a good wrestler, but I have also become a good young man.”

“The very first time I met Coach Barron at a Duke wrestling camp [at Cherry Creek High School], my wrestling shoes were old and hanging open completely. Without hesitation Coach Barron took his shoes off his feet and let me use them for the entire camp.

To kick off the 2021 nomination and application season, the RBS&HF elected to offer $250 grants to be used toward fees for wrestling camps. The board elected to focus on the three high schools in Colorado where Coach Barron led teams—Fort Lupton High School in Fort Lupton and Heritage and Columbine High Schools in Littleton. We asked each wrestler to submit a short note about what wrestling means to them and how it’s been an asset to their lives. First up is Will Alvarado from Fort Lupton High School.