Our Thunderbird Titans are wrapping up another season of wrestling. Led by Travis Azevedo, head coach. Along with Lee Chandler, assistant coach. The team has been doing very well. There are a total of 56 athletes on the team. With 43 boys and 13 girls. This year has the largest number of girls on the team ever at Thunderbird. Emily Javara, senior says,”I feel very grateful to have grown our team, it is such a privilege to have this community of girls in which we constantly push each other to be better everyday.“ Over the years Thunderbird has only had about 4-5 girls on the team.  

The Team participated in four tournaments. One of them is called The Dysart Demon classic. The girls placed 3rd overall. With 7 individuals out of 9 placed. The tournament champions were Ava Noland, senior and Alyson Sekaquaptewa, sophomore. The boys placed first as a team with Elijah Little, senior and Izaeth Ruelaz, junior as champions. This is the first tournament they won in 7 years. Travis Azevedo, head coach says,” Every win they’ve got they’ve earned the hard way”. The coaches are all very proud of the team. 

These athletes work very hard during practices which are 5-6 days a week afterschool. Wrestling is a combat sport which requires lots of hard work. They even have to wrestle during the major holidays. Their dedication is very vast. The team is also training for the sectionals to determine who goes to state on February 15th for the boys division and February 8th for the girls division. Colin Mannelly, senior says, “ I feel pretty good about sections, I’ve put in enough work over the past 4 years that I know I can rely on my training and my coaches, and the results will be good.” Only the top 4 who qualify go to state. Our Titans are prepared and confident!