Cyprus wrestling has new head coach

A new wrestling season has brought a new coach to Cyprus.

Swede Robinson is the Pirates’ new head coach this season. He is also the school’s new science teacher. This is Robinson’s first head coaching position. He has assisted in football, wrestling and track in Idaho, Wyoming and Arizona before moving to Cyprus. During the football season Robinson was an assistant coach to Cyprus head coach Brian Jacketta.

“I like to work with the kids and to be involved as much as I can,” Robinson said.

Robinson and his family were looking for the opportunity to move to Utah, and the Cyprus community was where he found his opportunity.

“I wanted to get to the area, but I also new Cyprus had good kids,” Robinson said. “I was mostly interested in getting involved with the quality of kids that we have and see if we could take their performances to the next level.”

The wrestling team’s goals this year are to win region. It hopes to make the top five at state this year.

“We set high goals that we would like to push for,” Robinson said. “The kids have also set personal goals to win regional and state championships. We have a strapping group of young men who do well on the mat.”

There are 40 wrestlers on the team this year. A few wrestlers that are showing real talent thus far in the season are senior Bob Mendee, wrestling at 160 pounds, senior Won Rodriquez, wrestling at 138, and senior Chad Hunt, wrestling at 185.

The competitors are working on being quicker on their feet and their shooting take-down techniques. As with all wrestlers, they also focus on conditioning for every match. As of this year, each wrestler must pass hydration tests to wrestle each tournament. The wresters are also required to maintain or lose weight at an appropriate and healthy rate throughout the season.

Cyprus competed in the Olympus Invitational Clash of the Titans tournament Dec. 8-9. The Pirates will then wrestle the Tri-meet against West and Timpview on Dec. 13, followed by the Viewmont tournament on Dec. 16-17.

The competitors will wrestle in about 15 more events before the region tournament. The state wrestling tournament will be held in February at the Utah Valley University McKay Center.