by Ed Crowe 

Ranging from the freshman to senior wrestlers, each member of Bosco Wrestling has committed their all this year in hopes of earning team Trinity League and CIF titles, as the Braves have placed in each of their non-league tournaments ahead of Trinity League competition.

One wrestler in particular, senior Nicco Ruiz, has attained great wisdom and a love for the sport since he started wrestling at the age of six. Recently, Nicco took home the Sonora High School Tournament of Champions and Clovis High School Doc Buchanan Wrestling Invitational gold medals in the 160-pound weight class. Nicco was also awarded tournament MVP at both events. 

At the Sonora TOC, three more Braves took home gold: freshman Nathan Carrillo in the 120-pound weight class division, sophomore Nicholas Sahakian in the 220-pound weight class and, finally, senior Mark Ayala in the 195-pound weight class.

After winning an individual CIF State title last year and after a couple first place finishes in tournaments this season, Nicco is obsessed with winning state again this year. However, he has many other goals for his team, such as winning CIF State with the Braves’ team as a whole, and despite being committed to wrestle next year at Arizona State University, Nicco is far from complacent. 

“This commitment makes me want to be better than I am at the moment,” Nicco said. 

Another Brave wrestler to keep on the radar is junior Grigor Cholakyan, who is verbally committed to Stanford University and has a great opportunity, like Nicco, to qualify for CIF State.

As an upperclassman, Grigor believes that one of his advantages this year is his sheer strength, which in the wrestling world is a major advantage when stepping on the mat. Not only is his strength an advantage, but Grigor has also attained massive amounts of agility as well as experience from his eight years of wrestling experience. Though he puts in the work himself, Grigor credits his improvements and successes to his family.

“They all sacrifice so much for me to be at this school and to do what I love to succeed,” said Grigor.  

In terms of making State this year, Grigor believes he can take home gold if he is confident within himself, does the little things right every day and takes the State tournament one match at a time, as he slowly prowls to the title.

Grigor also has high hopes for his team because of how skilled and trained they are, but more importantly, they have their minds set on the prize, and if they can keep it like that, Bosco Wrestling will be unstoppable as they approach Trinity League competition and CIF playoffs.