| My name is Isaac Balden. I am 16 years old, born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am a Sophomore and currently wrestle for Slam Academy, and my club team is Gold Rush Wrestling Academy. I am grateful to be nominated as NVSportsLocal’s Athlete of the Month for September. |
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| Wrestling has been a part of my life ever since I was born. The moment I was able to walk I started learning how to wrestle. My older brother started wrestling in middle school when I was a baby, and I began competing at the age of three. My dad was the youth head coach and also helped coach the high school team at Liberty, so I was always in the room. I wrestled for Liberty Wrestling Club until the age of nine with my dad as my Head Coach. I learned a lot in those early years of wrestling with my dad, but it was difficult for us to separate our father/son relationship to being coach and athlete. I spent many nights getting kicked out of practice back then, and this is when my parents decided it was time to send me to another team. |
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| Pistol Wrestling Club is where I began training with my new coaches Pete Martin, Anselmo Gutierrez and Bob Gallardo. My time with Pistol helped me grow as a person and a wrestler and provided me the opportunities I needed to have different faces in my corner. I was a part of Pistol Wrestling for three years up until Covid happened. When everything shut down my coach had too much on his plate to keep running the club, and eventually handed our team over to Chase Pami. |
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| When this happened in 2020, we became Gold Rush Wrestling Academy. Early on, Coach Chase took the time to get to know me and what my goals were in the sport of wrestling, and in life. These words he told me when we first spoke, “I’m hoping to help you both on and off the mat” really stood out to me because at this point in life I needed a coach who was not only there for me in wrestling, but who cared about who I was as a young man. At Gold Rush I have jumped significant levels since starting in 7th grade with the guidance of my coaches Chase Pami, Max Rohskopf, Ed Sorgani, and Jake Rollans. These coaches have all helped me in so many different ways – physically, mentally, and emotionally. |
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| Last year, my Freshman season at Slam Academy started off a little late due to our football team making it to the 3A State Championships. Coming out of football season, I was out of wrestling shape and it took me a little bit of time to be as physically fit as I needed to be. I mostly wrestled 144 during the season. My Slam coaches, Jake Rollans and Zach Hocker, provided our team the opportunity to wrestle at some of the biggest and best tournaments around. Last year I was able to compete in several tournaments with high-level competition such as La Costa Canyon, Reno TOC, and Doc Buchanan. |
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| The many successes I had throughout the season helped me prepare for Regionals and State. I was a 5A Southern Regional Finalist and took 2nd. The State Tournament finally rolled around and I was ready to take the State Title as a Freshman. My coaches believed it was possible too. I started my day with a first round bye into the Quarter Finals and had some tough matches, beating out two Seniors in the Quarters and Semis. Day 1 was finished, and I was on my way to the State Finals for a rematch from Regional Finals the previous week. |
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| Due to having to travel for the State Tournament, only my mom was there and not my whole family. Not having my little sister and my dad there was really different for me. My dad called me right before the Finals began and he told me “I believe in you. You have already proved everyone wrong that didn’t think you could be in the finals. You are more than capable of winning this match. Do not worry about winning or losing and worry about scoring points and having fun.” This made me feel a lot better and made me more confident. My mom helped me stay focused, made sure I wasn’t nervous, and kept me in a good mood. |
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| In the end, I lost the State Finals Match, and I was disappointed in myself. I felt as if I failed not only myself, but my family, friends, teammates, and coaches. I walked off the mat to find a corner to be left alone. I sat there for a bit and cried. Right as I was about to get up and get dressed, my opponent walked up to help me off my butt and gave me a hug and told me “Great match”! I walked to my mom and first thing my mom did was start crying and told me how proud she was and that she loved me. When I got home my coaches told me “Don’t worry about it. Go back and win it next year”. Overall, I know my first season of high school was a success. I finished it off as a 5A State Finalist and had a 47-14 record. |
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| As soon as high school season ended, and all through the summer, I was training for my first trip to Fargo. Although I didn’t get the results I wanted, I am not disappointed in my performance. My first Freestyle match at Fargo I lost the first round and was immediately on the back side of the bracket. After this 4-2 loss Coach Sorgani told me to keep my head up and that I was more than capable of coming back and placing. His words of encouragement gave me the boost of confidence I needed to push forward. I went on to win my next three matches before getting bounced out. I then went 2-2 in Greco. I was thankful to have Coach Sorgani who coached every match except one. Whether I won or lost, he was keeping me motivated, always telling me to stay focused and worry about the next one. |
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| I am thankful for the opportunity to wrestle. I appreciate the constant support from my coaches and teammates. I am thankful for my Mom and Dad that do everything for me. My wrestling journey has been nothing but learning lessons. Each day I learn something new, whether it’s about myself or in the sport. I am anxious to get through our current football season and get back in the grind of wrestling season. My journey is far from over. I have high standards for myself as a wrestler and plan on achieving my goals this year. I can’t wait to go back and do better than I did last year. |
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| “Isaac Balden brings his full effort every day to the wrestling room. His funky style paired with his work ethic has helped him jump levels in a short amount of time.” -Chase Pami |
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