Tristan Santos wins 113-lb wrestling title in Hawaii

Sophomore wrestler Tristan Santos was recently crowned 113-pound state champion of Hawaii while attending school at James Campbell High. He achieved All-American status his freshman year when he took part in the West Regional Tournament held in Pocatello Idaho placing in the Greco Roman and Freestyle competition. Santos was a 3-time gold medalist in previous tournaments before winning the state title.

Santos said, "It feels good, I know I have more years to come and get more state titles. I'm ready and it's hard to explain and hard to put into words just a lot of emotions. It was a huge accomplishment for me. What pushed me was my brother winning the state title when he was a senior and I wanted to beat his record so I just kept pushing and pushing and I made it. Also the mental preparation helped me too, training at home putting in extra hours after practice and just doing more than everyone else was."

Tristan's brother Brandon Perez is also a state champion taking home the 108-pound title in Hawaii back in 2013. Brandon holds an American Record in power lifting and wrestled for 1 season at Oregon State. Perez is back, home living in Hawaii where he helps his father Charles coach the wrestling team at Campbell High School.

Brandon said, "It was expected, I kind of already knew that we had put in the work together. Pretty much this whole preparation from the summer of 2014 to the end of the season. I was hi partner majority of the time, I had some business to take care of myself but it was always in the back of my mind to make sure he was taken care of. I trusted my dad to fill in and making sure he's getting the training and nutrition and the rest he needs to win one. So I know how it is and I know what it takes."

Tristan and Brandon's father says that the two wrestlers deserve all of their accomplishments because of their work ethic. Grandparents Ted & Antonette Padua of Ipan, Talafofo and Jesus & Margaret Perez who live off island wanted to also congratulate the two on their success. He said, "I'm so happy to hear how much they have accomplished They have both worked so hard on and off the mat, academically. It is very rewarding because of all the extras that we have put in for training both mental and physical preparations. It's hard work showing and it's paid off and I couldn't be any prouder of the two of them."

"For them to do what they did and represent the island of Guam in this positive way it helps promote our culture, where we came from. Our island and helped put us on the map if you would say."