Athlete of the Month
Hunter Moore

Pictures and Content courtesy of The Moore Family

My name is Hunter Moore and I am 17 years old. I am going to be a Senior this year at Boulder City High School (BCHS). I started Wrestling in 4th grade. I started because my older brother, Hayden, wrestled before me, and I always wanted to do what he did. I didn’t fully focus on wrestling though. Throughout my life, I have always played 3 sports; Football, Wrestling, and Baseball. I enjoyed all three. From 4th-8th grade I wrestled on Boulder City’s Junior Eagles Wrestling Team, however I didn’t accomplish much. I thought of it more as a time to stay active with friends.
I joined the Boulder City High School Wrestling Team my Freshman year. I realized my love for the sport and how much I enjoy it. During my Freshman year, I wrestled Varsity at 145lbs. My record was 22-10. I got injured halfway through the season, keeping me from my hopes to wrestle at the State Championships. I did not finish the season how I wanted. Baseball season followed and I played like I have done, so many years in the past. That season I discovered that I didn’t want to stop wrestling, and I wanted to get back on the mat. COVID-19 Quarantine cut that baseball season short.
During 2020, COVID-19 left me stuck at home and unable to do anything. That Summer, my Dad had asked if I wanted to try wrestling with a Club Team called Aniciete Training Club (ATC). I decided to try it. The first couple of practices took place in the garage of my Coach, Valyen Rauser. He coached me and my friend for three weeks before inviting us to come to practice with a bunch of wrestlers, and to meet coaches Napoleon and Alex Aniciete. I was nervous about joining the practice because of the number of elite level kids participating. That practice I was hooked. I gained more passion for the sport, and desire to improve.
COVID-19 took my Sophomore High School Wrestling season away. During this time I wrestled with ATC. I wrestled as many out of state tournaments that were offered that year, however never placed. I continued to work hard at practice, and my coaches helped me fix what I was doing wrong. This process took a long time, but I worked harder and smarter. During that year, I wrestled 106 Folksytle Wrestling matches, but only won half of them. Towards the end of my Sophomore year (May, 2021) my coaches exposed me to Freestyle and Greco. I struggled with them at first, but I slowly improved. I won 2 of 8 Greco matches and 3 of 6 Freestyle matches.
That Summer, I took a break from wrestling. I felt as if I had gone for too long, and didn’t want to get burnt out. My High School Football team was able to practice again, so I decided to just play football. I had a successful season starting at Running Back for my High School Varsity Team. After a little while, I started to miss being on the mat and wrestling with my friends/coaches at ATC. Towards the end of football season I returned to ATC and began wrestling again. I was extremely happy and having so much fun.
High School Wrestling season started, while I continued at ATC. I wrestled 160lb weight class my Junior year at BCHS. My record was 47-3. I placed 5th at the La Costa Canyon Classic, only losing to a wrestler in Cedar City, Utah during a Dual Tournament. I Tech-falled for First Place in the Regional Finals Championship, and won the 3A State Championship as well.
When High School Wrestling Season concluded, I continued training with ATC wrestling and going to tournaments in and out of state. Folkstyle concluded in April. Greco/Freestyle started again. I have been training to get ready for Fargo, ND. Two weeks ago, I Triple Crowned at Western Regionals and wrestled 18-1, only losing 1 dual match at the start of the Turf War Duals. I am still training at ATC with my coaches/friends and enjoying every minute of it.
I would like to thank: •ATC Coaches, Napoleon Aniciete, Val Rauser, and Alex Aniciete for continually pushing me to improve. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today. They have helped me achieve many accomplishments in wrestling these past two years. •High School Coaches, Jim Cox and Allen Haines, for introducing me to my favorite sport and coaching me to be my very best. •My Mom and Dad, Andrea and Alex Moore, for allowing me the chance to wrestle and to continue supporting me along my journey of wrestling.
Here are some Quotes about Hunter from the “Who Am I” Project: Hunter Moore, 17 years old, Entering into his Senior Year of Boulder City High School: “The one word I would use to describe Hunter is Relentless. The one thing I admire most about him is his willingness to work harder and smarter than everyone around him. I’m amazed by his ability to push through adversity and strive towards his goals each and every day. The proudest moment I have had of Hunter was when he won Western States Freestyle, Greco and Folkstyle winning the Triple Crown! Something in his head clicked and he realized the hard work and dedication he has put towards getting better is becoming reality and he believed that he belonged on the mat with the best kids. He proved it with a dominant performance and big crazy smile on his face. I love that kid!” – Coach Val (Vaylen Rauser, Aniciete Training Club)
“I am so proud of Hunter’s hard work and dedication in the classroom and in athletics. I love watching him prepare to step on the mat prior to a wrestling match. He gets in a different mental mindset showing his focus in the match. And, how humble he is following a win. I cherish the journey we have had together building up to the moment he won Wrestling State Championship. It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to his goal.” – Dad
“One word to describe Hunter is resilient. The one thing I admire the most is his integrity. He does everything right. I am amazed by his ability to remain focused and not distracted by the smallest things. The proudest moment I had was watching him win State.” – Coach Cox (High School Head Varsity Wrestling Coach)
“The one word I would use to describe Hunter is driven. The one thing I admire most about him is the way he balances his academics, athletics and community service. All of which he performs at a high level. I am amazed by his ability to set goals and see them through. The proudest moment I had was asking him to carry the team on his back and he did so without hesitation, taking the challenge head on. ” – Coach Morelli (High School Head Varsity Football Coach)
“I am so proud of Hunter for dedicating himself 110% to everything that is important to him. He has taught me about life that being his Mom is the best job I’ve ever had. I’m so grateful that Hunter is my son. He has inspired me to be a better listener. He is such a great young man and there is so much to learn from him. I love watching him perform in sports, laughing with his friends and playing with his puppy, Bear. I cherish the moments we have together as a family and especially anytime that I can get one-on-one with him! I love Hunter so much!” – Mom
“The one word I would use to describe Hunter is disciplined. The one thing I admire most about him is his work ethic. I am amazed by his ability to learn and grow. The proudest moment I had with him was sitting in his corner for the Nevada State Championship match.” – Coach Haines (High School Assistant Head Wrestling Coach)
“As Hunter’s older brother, I could not be more proud of him for putting in the countless hours, blood, sweat and tears that are required to achieve the accomplishments he has; and I am so excited to see what the future has in store for him. I loved watching him win his first State Championship and that I had the opportunity to sit mat-side and share that experience with him because its’ a moment I will never forget. It brought me to tears because I could no be more proud of my little brother and to be there to supporting him. I cherish the moments we have growing up, our relationship has grown quite a bit throughout the years. Although Hunter will always be my little bother, there’s no one else I’d want to share those experiences in life with.” – Hayden (20 Year Old Brother)