Photo Courtesy of Hampton-Dumont-CAL Wrestling
Hampton-Dumont-CAL incoming senior wrestler Charlie Showalter is one of many Bulldogs putting in extra work this summer to gear up for the upcoming season. Showalter has trained internationally in Kosovo and on a national level at Disney Duals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with Team Iowa AAU this summer.
Showalter says it was a fun atmosphere to compete in at Disney and it helped him fine tune for the season.
“It was great, nothing but tough wrestling and scrapping,” says Showalter. “We put ourselves around a good group of Iowa kids, and it was just a fun atmosphere to be around. Wrestling tough competition just builds character and it shows you really what you need to work on, fine tweak and things. To be able to wrestle at the highest level, it really makes you feel grateful for everything throughout the season and it prepares you well for the season.”
At the Disney Duals he went 9-2.
In Kosovo, Showalter competed with Bulldog teammates juniors Brody Strother and Ryder Strother and 2024 graduate Jayson Stevens.
Showalter says while in Kosovo he learned about different styles of wrestling and the trip made him grateful for everything he has back home.
“It really just opened my eyes and it showed me what there is in the true world. I think more importantly it made me grateful for everything I have back home. We take a lot of things for granted, just little things in our everyday lives that you don’t think about that is different all around the world. It was fun to go wrestle, compete internationally and see the different styles of wrestling.”
Showalter says always having opportunities to compete and train keeps him ready to go.
“I think that’s a beautiful thing about wrestling, I feel like I never stop competing and I never stop training. It can be tough sometimes to balance your schedule, but it’s also nice. I never have to worry about not being on the mat. I always have opportunities to go and compete, keep training and stay in peak athletic ability. You don’t have to knock the rust off, if you’re always ready to go.”
HD-CAL wrestling will head to Luther College team camp later on this summer.
