Purple and White wrestle their way to Division I status

BY HELENA KNUTSON / Multimedia Journalist

As the school year begins, students at Tarleton State University might notice some new additions to the athletics program, one of which is the new wrestling club.

Coach Grant Leeth, former assistant coach at Stanford University, came to Tarleton on a mission to bring D1 wrestling to the university.

“I’ve been wrestling since I was six,” Leeth said. “Having the opportunity to potentially bring division 1 wrestling to the state of Texas was extremely enticing,” 

Coach Leeth isn’t the only one on this mission to bring D1 wrestling to Texas University. Several of his wrestlers are also excited to be part of this.

Freshman wrestler Daniela Martinez is excited for all of the possibilities.

“It feels amazing thinking about how I could make a mark here,” Martinez said. “Becoming the first national champion, the first all-American; I can do that as long as I put the work in.”

Another member of the wrestling team, freshman Laird Bordo’n was excited to join the wrestling team because of the opportunity to start something new.

“It’s so cool because I’ve seen so many good wrestlers have to leave the state of Texas to get an opportunity somewhere,” Bordo’n said. “To be part of something here in Texas and start a new chapter here is awesome.” 

The new team has also gotten support from other schools. Several other Universities have helped shine a light on the club by repping their Tarleton gear. One of the biggest acts of support is from the donors who helped fund a training facility for these athletes.

“It’s amazing. Just the ability to come and lift or wrestle whenever you want and get better is so cool.” Bordo’n said.

With a total of 58 wrestlers, the recruiting process wasn’t easy for Leeth but his mission has struck the interest of several wrestlers, many of them from out of state. Freshman Gavin Blondeaux, originally from Nevada, came to Tarleton because of Coach Leeth’s ambitious dreams.

“I like the idea of being part of something new like the culture here and setting a bar for something that’s going to be very big,” Blondeaux said.

The wrestling club is excited for this upcoming season and can’t wait to reach the goals that they have been setting.

“I want to be able to get better and to encourage the little girls back home,” Martinez said. “I want to be able to make a mark, and if those little girls come here, they will be able to see that.”

Tarleton’s wrestling club will have its first match on Nov. 9 and 10 at Carl Albert in Oklahoma.