Ribbons, medals, and trophies needed for future wrestlers

They better start making them soon because Lake Roosevelt will be winning them.

Look ahead seven years or so and a new batch of wrestlers will be ready here.

Victor Landeros, with the help of parents, is preparing 50-60 kids to become a dynamic wrestling force at Lake Roosevelt.

Victor was a force of his own when he roamed the halls here. He’s got wrestling in his blood.

He’s been building on the little kids’ wrestling program, Coulee Crushers, for both boys and girls. It’s paying off with large turnouts and with good results in tournaments. And the program is building a fan base that will help move the wrestling program forward.

Victor has a special interest. His daughter Westlyn, now 7 and in the second grade, is in the program and doing well. Last week she won all three of her matches and this Sunday will be competing in the Tacoma Dome.

The youngsters wrestle under the same rules as their older wrestlers do.

The young wrestlers practice twice a week, then compete on the weekends with other schools with similar programs. They practice four times a week: two nights for experience wrestling and two nights for beginners.

This in time will build a program that will fill the gym when there are meets here. Already, parents flock to the weekend meets and also to the practice sessions.

Basketball has been the dominant sport at Lake Roosevelt, but it will be pushed by wrestling when these kids get in high school.

Victor has a rollup mat that he spreads in his living room when Westlyn practices. She even has a stuffed dummy that she trains with. Her music, dance and wrestling, take up her time.

So better start making those ribbons, medals and trophies for these youngsters, because you are going to hear from them soon.