Coach Tim Welch used the word young several times in a row to describe the makeup of the Valor Christian wrestling team.
“Our kids are mostly underclassmen and many are new to the sport so our guys don’t have a lot of mat experience,” Welch said during a break in tournament action Jan. 25 at Rock Canyon. “I only brought about half our team to this tournament. I sent seven other wrestlers to a junior varsity tournament. Really, three or four of the kids here today probably should also be at the junior varsity tournament.”
But, Welch said the Eagles wrestling program has potential. The coach said the Eagles have a strong youth program, the largest in Highlands Ranch. But, while about 50 athletes take part in the program not all decide to go to Valor.
“This year, we are a young team. But the kids are working hard and steadily improving,” he said. “But it takes time and mat experience to be competitive at the varsity level. As an example, the wrestlers here today are challenged to compete at the varsity level but when they wrestle JV they dominate their opponents.”
Valor Christian’s team joined Thomas Jefferson, Pueblo West, Littleton, Del Norte, Cherokee Trail, Wheat Ridge and host Rock Canyon for a one-day tournament on Jan. 25. Valor came in eighth place in the dual-format tourney while Pueblo West won the title.
The wrestler with the best record for Valor is the coach’s son, Coby Welch.
“Wrestling is my sport,” the Eagles 113-pounder said. “I have been wrestling since I was about four, my older brothers were wrestlers, and my dad is the coach so it was sort of natural I joined the team when I got to high school.”
Welch started the season at 120 pounds, but didn’t have a lot of success so he cut the weight to go down one class and has been winning ever since at 113.
“My strength and quickness are advantages but I think the biggest asset I have is my mat experience and techniques,” the sophomore said. “I finished fourth at regionals last year but missed the chance to go to state when I lost the wrestle-back match. This year, my goal is to win at regionals and make it to state.”