WHO’S NEXT? USAW STAR OF THE FUTURE Valencias make mark
California brothers are top prospects
By Richard Immel Two brothers. One dream. Both two-time California state champi-
ons for St. John Bosco High School, Anthony and Zahid Valencia are on a mission to become two of the best young wrestlers not only in the U.S. but also in the World. The brothers have been dominant on
the national scene this season, with Anthony competing at 170 pounds and Zahid at 182 pounds. Both won gold at the prestigious Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament in December, with Zahid join- ing David Taylor as the only four-time winners of the tournament. Prior to the 2014-15 season, Anthony
had been substantially bigger than his brother, but Zahid outgrew Anthony last summer, jumping from the 132-pound weight class to 182 pounds. The weight change for Zahid has been greatly benefi- cial to the duo’s training. “We are both close in weight now so
it’s good to practice with each other. It’s good to compete against each other. It makes us better,” Anthony said. Both see immense value in having a
brother with the same aspirations on and off the mat. “We are living under the same roof and
we both want the same goals so it makes us work harder,” Zahid said. “We both don’t want to lose, so if I figure something out and I start taking him down, he will counter and start doing something new. We just learn from each other that way.” Anthony, the elder of the two brothers
by one year, earned a spot on his first Junior World Team this summer, compet- ing in men’s freestyle at 74 kg/163 lbs. He posted a 2-1 record at the Junior
World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia in August, losing a heartbreaker in the quarterfinals to eventual bronze medalist Murat Erturk of Turkey. Anthony had defeated his two prior opponents by 10-0 technical fall. “It was a good experience. I saw how
people wrestle over there. It’s a different style. I think I did pretty well in all three of
30 USA Wrestler
Talented young prospect Anthony Valencia, shown above and below, made the U.S. Junior World Team in freestyle wrestling in 2014. John Sachs photo.
my matches, I just got caught on my third one,” Valencia said. 2000 Olympic gold medalist and USA
Wrestling National Development Coach Brandon Slay was in Anthony’s corner for the Junior Worlds. “Anthony had the ability to be a Junior
World champion,” Slay said. “I believe that, our team believed that in him, and most importantly he believed that in him- self. “I think that caused him what I call
healthy pain. He realized there were some skills he needed to work on to become the best wrestler in the World, and I think that’s why he is willing and excited to come out to Colorado Springs for National Team camp and continue to be around our coaching staff and improve.” Anthony also earned a bronze medal at
the 2014 Brazil Cup in November, besting many Senior-level athletes in the process. Zahid has not posted any international
results like his brother, but does boast impressive domestic victories being a two-time USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Champion and winning a Cadet National title in freestyle in 2012. Both brothers have committed to wres- tle at Arizona State University next fall
under the command of former U.S. National Freestyle coach Zeke Jones. “There are a lot of good things happen-
ing there. The coaches, Zeke Jones, Lee Pritts and Chris Pendleton, they all want
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