Athlete of the Month |
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| Saoul Prado |
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| Pictures and Content courtesy of The Prado Family |
| Saoul Prado is a hard-working kid that has always wanted to be an athlete. His drive and determination have pushed him to this point in his athletic career. Saoul started wrestling 3 years ago, and from the moment he stepped on the mat, he was hungry for knowledge. |
| Saoul started his sports-life playing baseball at 5 years old. Right away, we knew that he found his first love, and at the time we thought he had found love early. What we realized was that this was just puppy love. His passion for the sport of wrestling was found mid-season of his 8th grade year. With the guidance of Coach Rios, other coaches and dads–all part of Slam Academy, he achieved early success wrestling in the beginner brackets. His first year at Youth State, he was pushed to tougher brackets where he ended up placing 5th in State. The Prado family realized that things were changing, as baseball wasn’t the priority anymore to Saoul. Then going into Saoul’s Freshman year he was on Slam’s Junior Varsity team. Not making the Varsity Roster, he was determined to get better. He had a decent year and placed 2nd at JV Zones. However, placing 2nd only pushed him. It was during his Freshman year that he met the Aniciete brothers, Napoleon and Alex. |
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We didn’t know this meeting with the Anicietes was the start to a new mentorship. He worked hard all summer and unfortunately ended up breaking his scapula, so he was sidelined for the rest of the summer. On his return, he had to wrestle off his Sophomore year and he lost–which made him JV again, but his current high school coaches Zack Hocker and Jake Rollans still allowed him to compete at Varsity events. His first Dual of the season he won 8-0. The following week we traveled to LA Costa Canyon where he competed and was doing amazing. Saoul ended up with a winning record and made it to the 5-6th Place match. Unfortunately, he was slammed again on his scapula that was previously injured, and he was out again for most of his high school season. As parents we questioned if we had made the right choice of sport. But Saoul loved it through the adversity, and he pushed and worked hard. Without Coach Rios and ATC (Aniciete Training Club) that was formed as a garage club into something else, he wouldn’t have been able to come back, but these people believed in him. His Schedule was:
7am Before School Coach Rios 12pm Lunchtime Eat and Lift with Rios 2:30 After School High School Practice 4:30 ATC practice or Coach Rios Youth practice. The belief that these people had in him was unreal, because of this he was able to get 2nd in Regionals, and then 2nd in 3A NIAA State. |
| We continued to wrestle whenever we got a chance. Unfortunately Covid happened, but luckily ATC continued to have garage sessions, and then we started to get a bigger team, and that’s when the traveling began. We lost our Junior year, but we didn’t really because Saoul wrestled out of state in 23 Tournaments in the last 10 months! ATC has been dedicated to giving him, and his team, some great experiences. Saoul now only was given the hardest competition during this time, because the only kids wrestling are the ones that are wanting to be on the next level. He was able to place in almost every event with a few exceptions. He went from competing at a High School Level to competing at a National Level. He received his All-American at Freakshow and again at USA Wrestling Showcase. |
| The next stop on this year’s journey is Fargo. Next year, Saoul’s goal is to try to make a World team |
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