EAST WRESTLER EARNS SPOT ON US SQUAD
Alaska Digest
Anchorage Daily News
June 26 2008
AK
East High’s Kyle Hoffer has earned a berth at 145 pounds on the
U.S. Deaf National Wrestling Team after trials last weekend in
Pocatello, Idaho. The freestyle wrestler is also an alternate for
the Greco Roman team.
The U.S. team will compete in Yerevan, Armenia, in September at the
World Deaf Wrestling Championships. The team will also travel to Taipei
for the 21st Summer Deaflympics, featuring 10,000 deaf athletes from
more than 100 countries Sept. 5-15.
Hoffer, 18, left for Fairbanks on Monday for a three-week intensive
wrestling camp conducted by Alaska USA Wrestling to prepare Alaska
wrestlers for the nationals in Fargo N.D., one of the toughest
tournaments in the United States.
"He’s one of the hardest workers on the team," said Wes Bochert, coach
of the U.S. Deaf National Wrestling Team. "Even though it can be really
hard to communicate, he pays extra attention learning new techniques.
"As much as he puts into it, I think he could go to the top."
Hoffer wrestles for East High along with his brother, Nathan. His
father, Mark, coached the squad last year along with Scott Armstrong.