Coming off a solid 2013-14 wrestling season, the Dolores High School wrestling program could have rested on its laurels.
The Bears worked hard.
Recently participating in the "Wrestle the World" outdoor team camp, which was held in Pagosa Springs, June 4-8, several Bears wrestlers performed well.
Dolores High School wrestlers participating in the camp included Richard Martinez, Tristan Medina, Riley Syra, Aiden Hopcia and Guy Wallace.
Seven Dolores Middle School wrestlers and two Dolores peewee wrestlers also participated in the camp, which was hosted by former Olympic bronze medalist and current University of Iowa Associate Head Coach Terry Brands.
In addition to receiving world-class technical training, participants had the chance to compete in a varsity dual, which included teams from Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and California.
Joining wrestlers from Bayfield, Bloomfield and Kansas, Dolores wrestlers helped their team win the tournament.
"They wrestled great," said Dolores coach Leo Garand. "Richard (Martinez) and Tristan (Medina) were real close to making the all-star team."
Garand said that such summer work is necessary for wrestlers to enjoy success in high school.
"If you want to be a state champ, you've got to put in at least 100 or 125 quality matches a year," he said.
Dolores wrestlers will compete in the Paonia duals June 14-15 and tournaments in June and July.