Simple Man Wrestling

There are coaches who measure success by trophies. There are coaches who measure it by wins and losses. And then there are coaches who understand that the scoreboard is only a small part of the story.

For Fred Bartlett, wrestling has never simply been about what happens on the mat.

It is about relationships. It is about purpose. It is about giving young people something to believe in—and, perhaps most importantly, helping them discover who they can become.

Now in his 14th year as head coach at Buhl High School and having completed his fifth year as Team Leader and Women’s Director for Idaho USA Wrestling, Bartlett has become one of the most influential figures in Idaho wrestling. His résumé includes state champions, state placers, district championships, state tournament success, national All-Americans and national champions. But the numbers, impressive as they are, only tell part of the story.

Bartlett’s real legacy may ultimately be found in the people he has influenced.

“I used to say wrestling saved my life,” Bartlett said. “That’s not totally accurate. The relationships I’ve gained through the sport saved my life.”

That statement provides perhaps the clearest window into the coach, husband, father, community leader and mentor Bartlett has become—and into the philosophy that has guided his remarkable journey through wrestling.

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/17/fred-bartlett-building-champions-building-people-and-building-the-future-of-idaho-wrestling/

Some wrestling experiences end when the final whistle blows. Others stay with you for a lifetime.

For Tim Box, wrestling has never simply been a sport. It has been a way of life—one that began when he was four years old and has continued to shape nearly every chapter of his journey. His father, Mike Box, introduced him to wrestling and, from the beginning, made sure his son had every opportunity to experience everything the sport had to offer. Practices, competitions, long drives, victories, setbacks and countless hours around the wrestling room became part of Tim’s childhood. Alongside his older brother, Anthony, Mike helped establish the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion.

Those early experiences did more than develop Box as a wrestler. They helped shape the coach, mentor and leader he would eventually become. Box readily identifies his father and brother as the two most influential figures in his wrestling career. Despite his considerable accomplishments as both an athlete and coach, he jokingly insists that he is only the “third-best coach” in his immediate family.

Beneath the humor is a genuine appreciation for the lessons they gave him. From them, Box learned that wrestling is about far more than wins and losses. It is about commitment, accountability, sacrifice, humility, relationships and the constant pursuit of improvement. Those principles have followed him throughout his life and now form the foundation of his leadership at Palomar College.

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/14/tim-box-building-a-legacy-that-outlasts-the-mat/

For Lemoore College head coach Marcio Botelho, wrestling was never supposed to become a lifelong calling. It began almost by accident—a football coach’s suggestion, a new sport for a young immigrant from the island of São Miguel in the Azores who knew little about wrestling, and a decision that ultimately changed the trajectory of his life. Today, nearly two decades into his coaching career, Botelho finds himself on the other side of that journey, leading Lemoore College wrestling with a philosophy rooted in the same principles that shaped him: hard work, discipline, accountability, perseverance and the belief that wrestling can change lives.

But the numbers tell another important part of the story. Since taking over the Lemoore College program in 2017—when it was still known as West Hills College—Botelho has presided over a remarkable run of individual success. Based on the statistical record provided, his wrestlers have produced 23 3C2A State Championship medal finishes through 2025, including 13 All-American performances and four individual state championships. The list includes champions, finalists, multiple-time medalists and nationally recognized athletes, demonstrating that the program has consistently developed wrestlers capable of competing at the highest level of California community college wrestling.

The progression is particularly impressive because the production has occurred across multiple weight classes and generations of athletes. In 2017, Adrian Marrufo opened Botelho’s tenure with a fourth-place State Championship finish and All-American honors, while Jose Paiz added an eighth-place finish. Two years later, Jeronimo Cardosa reached the podium at 165 pounds with a fourth-place finish and All-American status, while Jude Miranda and Patrick Slatic also became State medalists. The program’s trajectory continued to accelerate.

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/11/more-than-wins-marcio-botelho-and-the-building-of-a-lemoore-wrestling-legacy/

Some wrestling stories are measured in championships, medals and records. Others are measured by something harder to quantify—the ability to overcome failure, inspire others and leave the sport better than you found it.

Kevin Emily’s story is one of those.

In 2026, that lifetime of service was formally recognized when Emily received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the South Carolina Chapter.

For more than three decades, Emily has immersed himself in wrestling—as a competitor, coach, clinician, mentor, author and historian.

His journey began with an intimidating introduction to wrestling in Waterloo, Iowa, and eventually took him from a 0–19 high school freshman season to becoming a Division I starter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Along the way, he became a successful high school coach, founded the Mighty Warriors Wrestling Academy, worked alongside some of the sport’s most accomplished figures and authored three books dedicated to preserving important stories from wrestling history.

Now, his work on Giant Killer: The Carlton Haselrig Story may take him into an entirely new arena—the possibility of bringing the story from the printed page to the big screen.

Yet the numbers and accomplishments only tell part of the story.

At the center of Emily’s journey is a philosophy forged through adversity and carried throughout his life:

Never give up. And always give back.

FROM 0–19 TO 19–0

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/10/kevin-emily-from-0-19-to-a-life-of-impact/

For more than five decades, wrestling at Lassen College in Susanville, California, has represented far more than wins and losses. It has been a program built on opportunity, perseverance and the belief that wrestling can change lives.

Since 1969, Lassen has developed state champions, national champions, All-Americans and student-athletes who have continued their education and competitive careers at four-year institutions. Through changing competitive landscapes, fluctuating program numbers and transitions between the NJCAA and 3C2A, Lassen has maintained a proud and influential place in California community-college wrestling history.

Today, that legacy is being carried forward by one of the program’s most familiar figures, Lonnie Nalls. A former NJCAA national champion, University of Illinois competitor, accomplished coach and member of the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame, Nalls has a unique connection to Lassen. He was part of the program during one of its most successful periods, left to continue his coaching career elsewhere, and ultimately returned to Susanville in 2021 to lead the Cougars into another chapter of their storied history.

The numbers surrounding Lassen’s wrestling tradition are impressive. From 1969 through 2025, the Cougars have produced 100 3C2A state medalists, 43 3C2A All-Americans and 14 3C2A individual champions, while capturing the 1986 3C2A State Team Championship.

But those statistics tell only part of the story.

To fully appreciate Lassen’s place in community-college wrestling history, it is necessary to examine how a small Northern California college developed into a California state power, transformed itself into a national junior-college powerhouse, and continues to provide opportunities for another generation of wrestlers.

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/07/lassen-college-wrestling-a-legacy-of-championships-opportunity-and-resilience/

Read the full Northern Section breakdown by Paulo DiMaria on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/05/2026-2027-northern-section-wrestling-the-returning-powerhouse-blueprint/

For nearly seven decades, the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) has served as the foundation of collegiate wrestling in California. Since its inaugural season in 1958-59, the 3C2A has developed countless champions, producing All-Americans, NCAA and NAIA standouts, and even Olympians.

Now, you have the opportunity to help write the next chapter.

Gavilan College is exploring the launch of men’s and women’s wrestling programs, and your voice matters. Wrestlers, coaches, parents, alumni, fans, and community supporters are invited to attend a Wrestling Town Hall to learn about the vision, ask questions, and help shape the future of wrestling in Gilroy.

As 3C2A wrestling experiences a resurgence—with the return of programs at the College of the Redwoods and Imperial Valley College, along with the addition of Mission College—momentum is building across California. Interest in bringing wrestling back to Gavilan College has generated excitement throughout the state’s wrestling community and beyond.

Read the full article by Al Fontes on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/04/help-bring-college-wrestling-back-to-gavilan-college/

The 2026-2027 high school wrestling season is fast approaching, and the CIF San Francisco City Section—the governing body for the area’s high school sports—is gearing up for another fierce year of competition on the mats. After a thrilling postseason last year, programs across the city are reloading and preparing for the winter grind.

Before we dive into the breakdown, it is important to clarify that this is not a preseason ranking. Rather, this article highlights the top returning teams in the section based strictly on the total number of postseason points returning to their rosters. From defending champions looking to extend their dominance to hungry challengers boasting deep, battle-tested lineups, here is an inside look at the squads poised to make the biggest impact this season.

Read the full article by Pablo DiMaria on simplemanwrestling.com.

https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/08/03/chasing-the-city-crown-top-returning-programs-in-the-sf-section/