| Hunter Bates entered his first wrestling tournament on January 4, 2025, at seven years old, just weeks shy of his eighth birthday. Despite losing his early matches through February, he rededicated himself to the sport. Hunter now trains three to three-and-a-half hours a day, four to five days a week, combining a one-hour private session with two hours of practice. |
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| When local competition plateaued, his family began taking him on the road, traveling for elite camps, national tournaments, and nonstop weekend events to find the toughest opponents. This included attending Purler Wrestling Camp and Iowa camps. The hard work paid off: Hunter broke through by winning Western Regionals in Utah, followed by California State and Nevada State titles. |
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| He then tested himself at the highest level, placing 4th at the Tulsa Kickoff and 5th at Tulsa Nationals, widely regarded as the toughest youth wrestling tournament in the nation. Now nine years old (he turned nine on January 9), Hunter dominates locally but continues to leave the state to seek out harder matches. He avoids easy wins, instead focusing on growth, pressure, and challenging the best competition available. His exceptional toughness, discipline, and relentless mindset make him a standout nominee for Las Vegas Athlete of the Month. |
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