2026 Class of Wrestling

Something that indicates a growing athletic program is strong freshman classes and fresh talent. This year’s wrestling team is the largest in recent memory. Head Coach Micheal Gordon has worked on developing the TVCS middle school team for many years to create the next generation of Bishop Kelly wrestlers. Now with coaching from the High School coaches Manny and Curt, this year’s incoming talents are making a statement for the future of the program. Due to Covid, the middle school team went a year without a sport leading to only three returning wrestlers. Leading to a full rebuild last year. Despite this, the TVCS wrestling team won Districts for the first time in history. 

Some notable freshmen from the TVCS program include Tensei Thompson(138 lb), who, in his first year wrestling, held a record of 46 – 1 and went on to place second in the state tournament. Tensei hopes to make a statement in his first high school season. When asked during the preseason about how he views the changes from middle school to high school in the sport, he said, “The high school skill level presents a more difficult challenge than middle school. This year, I’m expecting a lot of challenge, and I expect to surprise a lot of people as well”. Thompson did not fail to deliver on his statement to surprise people this year, beating a state placer from Cladwell in his second varsity start. Tensei enters this year’s district seed as the second seed behind fellow bishop kelly wrestler Manuel Valdez. Other key Freshmen that have played massive roles in the team’s perfect record in 4A duels this season are Darren Hayes(98) and Dylan Dotaviano(106). Dotaviano, an exciting Freshman varsity wrestler, commented that this year’s squad is “very welcoming and very brotherly” and that he feels a “sort of bond together”. Especially during his time on varsity, he feels the team brings a new “energy and excitement” to wrestling. The evolution in quality displayed in the TVCS wrestling team and the recent success found in the High School team can also be attributed to the brilliant coaching staff. Former BSU wrestler Manny Ybarra took over as head coach after Mr. Ribordy moved on from coaching and changed the program for the best and the exciting and robust classes of incoming freshmen are proof of that. 

(Photo Credit: Reggie Baca)