Richards eighth at nationals
<p>Eli Richards</p>
To become a double All-American in wrestling, Eli Richards, 10, placed in the top eight in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at a national tournament.
Between June 24 to 26, Richards wrestled in Orem, Utah, in the 75-pound intermediate division.
He placed fifth in Greco-Roman and eighth in Freestyle.
Evan Barajas, 10, also attended the national tournament and wrestled in the 65-pound intermediate division.
Barajas was one match away from placing in the top eight and being an All-American.
The week before the national tournament, Richards, Barajas, and Kyle Smith, 10, attended the West Regionals in Pocatello with 4,000 other kids.
The three boys wrestled in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco events.
Smith wrestled in the 80-pound intermediate division.
Between Smith, Barajas and Richards, they placed in the top eight six times.
“The kids did very well,” said Corey Richards.
The kids plan to transfer the experience they gained from these tournaments to the wrestling club this fall and help other kids become better said Richards.
Community generosity made attending the tournaments possible for the three wrestlers, who did yard work and firewood stacking to raise money for their expenses.