To achieve greatness in the sport of wrestling, year- round participation is sometimes required.

With that in mind, local coaches recently organized a youth wrestling camp designed to help young wrestlers improve.

Held at Mancos Middle School, June 21-22, the camp attracted more than 40 peewee and middle school wrestlers hailing from Mancos, Nucla, Pagosa Springs, Bayfield and Dove Creek.

Coaching the middle school portion of the camp was former Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestling star Justin Samora, who recently wrapped up a solid career at Adams State College.

Stressing the importance of work ethic while demonstrating a variety of grappling techniques, Samora relished the coaching experience.

Also helping coach the camp was former Mancos High School wrestling star Allen Matthews, who currently leads the Mancos peewee program.

Discussing the importance of summer wrestling camps, Matthews was frank, explaining that wrestlers must remain involved year round if they want to enjoy success.

"There's an old cliché that winter champions are made in the summer," explained Matthews. "We just want to offer the kids an opportunity to work on their skills a little bit."

By doing so, Matthews and other local coaches are confident that Mancos High School's once-proud wrestling program will rise again.