Colin Sierer makes his father, teammates proud on the wrestling mat

By Josh McFadden  | [email protected]

Every time Highland High School wrestler Colin Sierer suits up for a wrestling competition, he’s under the watchful eye of his father. While many teammates have fathers up in the standings cheering them on, Sierer’s is a little closer.

That’s because he’s the coach.

Colin Sierer takes his role on the team seriously. While head coach Ted Sierer runs practices and focuses on the development of each competitor, Colin Sierer tries to lead through his actions.

“I feel that my most important roles on the team are to be a leader and an example to my teammates,” he said. “I feel this way because I am the coach's son and a captain of the team, so I feel that I need to always be on task and make sure that others are doing the same.”

Colin wrestles in the 106-pound weight class. On Jan. 14, he competed in the Utah State All-Star tournament, representing the 5A class in that weight. Last season as a junior, he placed third at the state tournament, winning by fall in just 44 seconds in the third-place match.

His senior season has been successful, as he has compiled a 31-4 record with two second-place finishes in tournaments. He’s aiming for nothing less than an individual state title at the 5A tournament in February.

“To do this, I need to continue working hard and perfecting my wrestling,” he said.

In addition to his leadership role, Colin said he has other traits that aid his own performance and the entire team’s results.

“I am a hard worker, am always on task and always give my all to the sport, even when times get difficult,” he said. “I feel that these strengths benefit my team because each of my teammates associate me with these traits and see me as an example of each of these traits. I also feel that this helps the team because when one of my teammates may be having a hard time, they can look at my example and receive strength knowing that there is someone else on the team who has gone through difficult times and fought through them, eventually finding success.”

As the consummate teammate, Sierer is also committed to helping the Rams get as many wrestlers to state as possible. He spoke highly of fellow competitors Paul Clark, Connor Straessler and Jaime Duenas, each of whom has placed in tournaments this season. At press time, the Rams were 7-1 with their only loss coming to Timpanogos.

“As a team, we have a goal to take region, and if that becomes impossible due to our loss, we want to finish the season out strong by not losing any more duels,” he said. “Each of the wrestlers on the team, including me, needs to work on perfecting each of the three phases of wrestling: top, bottom and neutral. I also believe that some of the younger wrestlers need to build their confidence as wrestlers and know that each of them is capable of great things.”

For Colin, wrestling has been about more than pinning opponents, placing high in tournaments and racking up points. He has enjoyed what it has done for him as a person and how it has helped him develop friendships.

“I enjoy wrestling because it helps me live a healthy life, and it has taught me many important life skills like how to work through difficult times and how to live a healthy life through healthy eating and exercise. Over the past four years, I have found that the best part of being on the wrestling team is the relationships that I have built and grown. I know that everyone on this and past teams would have my back, and I would have theirs, ever a situation presented the need.”