Wrestling trailblazer Angel Rios to coach BHS girls wrestling
This year is the inaugural season for the new girls wrestling squad at Berthoud High School (BHS). Starting any new sports team comes with challenges, like creating a practice schedule, getting new equipment, athletes learning the sport, finding opponents to play and building a foundation for a successful program. But one area Berthoud’s girls wrestling team won’t have to worry about is coaching.
Last week, BHS announced that Angel Rios would be joining the coaching staff for the girls wrestling team. Rios is a wrestling legend in Colorado after her short but illustrious career at Valley High School in Gilcrest. In 2019 she became the first female wrestler, wrestling in the boys division, to win a Colorado Regional tournament. One week later she made history again, finishing fourth in the 3A 106-pound classification at the state wrestling tournament. Her podium finish was the highest ever for a female wrestler against the boys.
Rios will join Coach Vince Mosley this year in leading the BHS girls wrestling team. “She has a phenomenal background,” said Mosley about Rios.
Rios comes from a wrestling background. Her brothers all wrestled with her father playing a prominent role in developing them. Rios said she repeatedly pleaded with her father to let her wrestle with the boys, but he initially refused. He finally relented after Rios asked, “you let the boys do it, why can’t I?” Her father only made her promise never to give up, Rios eagerly agreed and then made history.
Even a few years ago the wrestling scene for girls was different. “When I grew up wrestling, there wasn’t girls wrestling,” said Rios. Some competitions had girls wrestling but they weren’t enough for her. The Colorado High School Sports Association only sanctioned high school girls wrestling in 2021. “I liked the intensity of wrestling boys because it pushed you,” said Rios. After making the podium in the state wrestling tournament in 2019 against the boys she said it was a dream come true.
Unfortunately, health concerns surfaced shortly after the state wrestling tournament and have kept her from competing since. “I can’t physically wrestle myself due to the operation, so I figured out why not pass down what I’ve learned the past 18 years wrestling to help others,” said Rios.
For the girls wrestling team, she’s a great asset. “She’s got a plethora of knowledge and background,” said Mosley about Rios. While Mosley said he’s comfortable with the training and strength conditioning side of wrestling, Rios’ knowledge on the mat is invaluable.
Mosley said he’s been impressed so far this winter with how the girls team has challenged themselves. “I’m totally in awe of these girls because they’re stepping outside of their comfort zone,” he said.
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