Seven area wrestlers from Hampton-Dumont-CAL and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows departed Friday with Team Iowa AAU for a week-long opportunity to train on the international stage in Kosovo.
Representing Hampton-Dumont-CAL is 2024 graduate and Cornell commit Jayson Stevens, juniors Brody Strother and Ryder Strother, and senior Charlie Showalter.
Bulldogs Head Coach Patrick Hansen says he is excited for wrestlers to experience a different style of wrestling and way of life.
“When their over there they’ll be wrestling freestyle, so it will be different wrestling,” says Hansen. It’s kind of a culture shock sometimes, in Kosovo they don’t compete with their school, they have to go to a YMCA or a club, and then that’s how they get to learn about wrestling. They learn how nice we have it here, just all the things we offer here, that a lot of place do not get the privilege of doing. I’m excited for them to get out and experience those things. It’s great that wrestling can be a catalyst to support this trip for them. Three days of wrestling and then their is going to be four days of traveling and experiencing new ways of life.”
Representing Clarion-Goldfield-Dows is Senior Caleb Seaba, Junior Ryan Hartwig and Sophomore Mason Warnke.
Cowboys Head Coach Dillon Anderson says he hopes wrestlers come back with a fun attitude and grow personally.
“Hopefully they come back with an appreciation of what all we have back in the United States here and an appreciation for the sport of wrestling,” says Anderson. “I hope that they come back with a fun attitude of knowing that wrestling is fun. Hopefully it will encourage them to put more time and effort into it and get better and better. They’ll also have an opportunity to see a whole different world of things when it comes to culture, which is always good to get some personal growth. It’s supposed to be a fun trip.”
Highlights of the week include two days of training with the Kosovo national team, a tournament, a chance to visit the nation’s capital and meet national leaders and a trip to a U.S. military base in Kosovo.
