Falcon HS Wrestlers fighting for post season tournaments
By Tom Blair, ICW Staff
While most wrestlers in Colorado are wrestling their competition on the mat and getting ready for post season tournaments (regional and state). Four wrestlers from Falcon High School wrestling team were suspended from competing 10 days ago, with District 49 saying they had violated CHSAA Bylaw 1850. This bylaw which prohibits transferring to a new school for special training to compete in high school sports.
The four student athletes were all shocked as they all competed in last year wrestling season. The students – Aydin Rix McElhinney (senior), Landon Drury (sophomore), Nevin Smith (sophomore) and Daniel Leon (sophomore). The students attend District 49 Springs Studio for their academics, which is a public blend school that is half online and half in school. The school does not offer any sports, so the student / athletes are able to compete for any high school within their district.
All four students are enrolled in Betterman Elite Wrestling, a nonprofit wrestling club on South Academy, coach Joe Betterman was excited to help train these young athletes. When the four athletes asked to come to live with him and train at his club, he went to the school district they would compete in to make sure they were following all the Colorado High School Activities Association (CSHAA) regulations. Betterman, is the club coach and legal guardian of all four of the athletes. All four of the student athletes came to live with the Bettermans’ for different reasons and training at the club is an extra benefit.
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