2014 NUWAY WORLD CHALLENGE
California – A famous quote from the book of Proverbs found in the Bible, says “Iron Sharpens Iron”. The quote its true when it comes to describing the quality of the NUWAY World Challenge tournament held by Clovis West High School.
Since its initial stages thirteen years ago, the quality of the event has gotten tougher every single year. From the first whistle, all the way to the last one, all spectators, fans and wrestlers, get to see many wrestlers with excellent wrestling resumes wrestling each other. Many whom when on to win California state titles or became college All-Americans, started wrestling and winning this event in the schoolboy division. Many names that come to mind are Peter Santos (Currently at San Francisco State), Nikko Reyes (Illinois University) Victor Perreira (Former Division II National Champion), David Klingsheim (Big 12 champion for Nebraska), A.J Valles (Two-time NAIA All-American), Javier Gasca (Currently in Michigan State), Isaiah Martinez (Currently in Illinois University) and Three-time California state champion, Nikko Villareal (Currently wrestling at Arizona State University).
Tournament director and head coach at Clovis West, Ian Shaw, hasn’t stopped working on attracting the best from all over the state and the nation.
“Our goal when we first started the tournament, was to make the World Challenge the toughest pre-season tournament in California and the West Coast”. Coach Ian Shaw, said.
This year’s tournament can be the best one ever with all the talent attending Clovis West.
“Teams from all over the state will be attending the World Challenge. Teams like Poway, Gilroy, Clovis, Bakersfield, San Marino, Northview, Buchanan, Calvary Chapel, Oakdale and many more will be sending their best wrestlers to the tournament. Placing top 4 in the tournament will be a very hard task in any weight class. – Shaw, said.
The tournament will be very special as fans will get the chance to see Junior Olympic Silver medalist, Cade Olivas wrestle in the elite division of the tournament. Olivas is the No. 3 ranked wrestler at 106 pounds in the nation by Associated Wrestling Press and considered by many to be the next big thing in California wrestling. Another treat the fans will get, it’s to see the Valencia brothers, Zahid and Anthony. Anthony is the No. 1 wrestler in his weight class in the nation, while Zahid was the No. 1 wrestler last season at 132 pounds. Fans are especially eager to see Zahid wrestle now that they have found out that he will be wrestling in the 192 pound weight class. Zahid is a two-time California state champion and three-time Walsh Ironman Champion. Fans are wondering if he will have the power and speed to become the second four-time Ironman champion in December. Only David Taylor has won 4 Ironman titles. Fans are already comparing Zahid to former two-time National Champion, Tommy Rowland*. Rowland started wrestling at 106 pounds in Ohio, and finished as a HWT for The Ohio State University.