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Continuing their wrestling journey together

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Rhys Sellers, George Piestewa signed to wrestle for New Mexico Highlands University

Two of Miyamura High School’s wrestling seniors will continue to be teammates at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., next year.

Rhys Seller and George Piestewa signed their letters of intent to wrestle for the college on July 22.

Piestewa said he was excited to get to continue to have Rhys as a teammate.

“It’s going to be really exciting. We’ve wrestled together since we were seven or eight, and it’s crazy that we’re still going to be partners in the same room,” Piestewa said.

Rhys went 41-0 during last year’s season, and won the state championship for the 120 pounds category. Piestewa was the state runner up at 113 pounds, and went 37-3 during the season.

Wrestling coach Nate Sellers, who also happens to be Rhys’ dad, said it’s the boys’ dedication that makes them good wrestlers.

“What makes them good wrestlers I would say is their work ethic and their dedication to the sport,” Nate said. “A lot of high school athletes are predominately only working out during their season, and [George and Rhys don’t do that]. It shows for George and Rhys, they’re constantly in the room getting better. As soon as state was finished, they were back in the room, practicing their craft.”

Piestewa said that one of the things he’s learned through wrestling is how to be humble.

“With this sport, you’re going up against people you believe are the best or you’re the best, and then in the end you find out that you two are very humble people and respect one another when it comes to the aspect of wrestling,” Piestewa said.

Rhys said he enjoys the individuality of the sport.

“You can tell when someone’s a hard worker because it will really show on the mat, unlike any other sport,” Rhys said. “Wrestling is one of those sports where it’s all on you instead of having teamwork […].”

Rhys explained that the New Mexico Highlands University’s wrestling team would be full of younger wrestlers this upcoming school year, and that he’s excited to be a part of that.

“It’s going to be a really young wrestling team this next couple of years, so being able to start from the roots of the team, being the start of history, is one of the best things possible,” Rhys said.

Rhys is going to be studying biology when he’s not on the wrestling mat. He said he wants to become a pediatric orthodontist, and a degree in biology is the first step in achieving his goal.

Piestewa will be studying wildlife biology.

By Molly Ann Howell
Sun Correspondent