Tommy Verrette CO: It's a 'You' Change
It’s a ‘You’ Change: Keys to Tommy Verrette CO’s Success
By Bill X. Barron
“In wrestling, I have learned that the main opponent I need to take charge of is myself,” cites 16-year-old Tommy Verrette, Colorado’s first 2-time Cadet Fargo Greco Champion. “It’s a ‘you’ change.”
“In order to beat the person inside, to fight back against self-doubt, to not eat when I am watching weight, or to not stall out the end of a match – it’s my mindset that I first need to master.”
In addition to two Greco titles, Tommy has twice finished 3rd in 16U freestyle at Fargo. In between, he won the 2022 U.S. Open in freestyle and Greco and became a Pan-Am 15U 57 kg double-gold medalist.
From ages eight to eleven, he attended Sons of Thunder Wrestling Academy, studying weekdays using a classroom-based online curriculum while traveling all over the nation on weekends with Sons of Thunder Wrestling Academy coaches Luke Morris and Jeff Estrada.
“Tommy Verrette is a young lion; his work ethic is unbelievable, his passion unmatched,” recalls Estrada. “Even at a young age, his love for Greco was that of a senior-level athlete. He is someone I have always believed can win the match no matter what the score is. I still believe it today. I still believe!”
Luke continues to be part of Tommy’s life as Colorado USA Jr. Men’s Director and head coach for Black Fox Wrestling Academy. “Luke has been a blessing. He has been a positive step in our lives that has never ceased,” states his dad, Thomas. “He’s always in our corner, calm and supportive with sage advice.”
“Despite his early success, Tommy is just beginning to truly believe in his capacity for greatness,” Morris says.
“At Fargo, he dominated the first 3.5 minutes of the freestyle semi, then became conservative. He brought that lesson to the Greco finals where, after initially falling behind, he kept his composure to gradually work his way back to first.
Tommy's rapid ascension had its roots in battling through roughly 500 RMN Event matches. Traveling with his dad, Thomas, they traced the boundaries of the United States, driving to Missouri and Kansas, flying to California and Nevada, not to mention the south border of Texas and its northern counterpart Washington.
“Ed Gutierrez (CEO of RMN Events) exposed us to the nation, taught us how to be travel-ready, and introduced Tommy to freestyle and Greco. The tougher competition made us learn how to wrestle from the bottom,” comments Thomas. “I owe them many thanks for showing us the country and the sport coast-to-coast.”
Ed reminisces: “The dedication, sacrifice, and time that it takes to create a champion is what I've enjoyed seeing families such as the Verrettes invest in their children.
“It always brings tremendous gratification to watch a young competitor like Tommy begin in the introductory division of our tournaments, then become so successful all through elementary, middle school, and high school. Now he is in a position to conquer world titles.”
“RMN was a really cool place to grow up through wrestling. It was intense even though, in totality, it was most enjoyable,” Tommy reflects. “I loved the exposure to all forms of competition with wrestlers from across the country. The Gutierrez family were huge supporters and really good people.”
Tommy is an accomplished folkstyle wrestler who has won youth state championships in three states – Colorado, Illinois, and Pennsylvania – and this year, as a freshman for Ponderosa High in Parker, Tommy won Colorado’s 5A (large school) 126-lb. championship.
In the state finals, 9th-grader Tommy faced Pomona’s Mark Cardenas, a senior whose brother Daniel was a 4-time state champion. In the first match of the 2022-23 season, Mark was the winner.
At the midseason Top of the Rockies, Tommy beat Mark for 1st place. Thereby, State was the rubber match. “You learn from losses,” Tommy relates. “I knew I had to improve my defense and to go all out on offense.” In the finals, Tommy showed up in full gear, never looking back while earning a 10-1 major decision.
His high school coach, Jarion Beets, reflects: “What makes him exceptional at a younger age is his ability to refocus after a tough loss by limiting how much time he will let it affect him. He had a couple of tough losses in State last year, but he avenged them against seasoned opponents en route to his first title.
“In the wrestling room, Tommy is all business, keeping a high pace while retaining new techniques and helping teach his teammates. His desire to win is superior, and I love his enthusiasm!”
Four to five times a week, Tommy commutes over an hour each way to train with Leister Bowling III and Joe Warren at the Top Team School of Wrestling. “Tommy brings a high level of intensity to the mat every time he steps on it, in both practice and competition,” comments Coach Bowling.
“His drive and love for the sport will take him far. Tommy’s commitment and dedication separate Tommy from his peers. He will do anything or go anywhere to ensure he gets all he needs to succeed.”
Leister knows something about commitment; his family recently completed a rare 3-generation Fargo All-American feat in Greco, starting with Leister Jr. in 1978 (6th). Grandad is still coaching on the sidelines. Leister III, Top Team founder, followed in 1998 (7th). Their legacy culminated in 2022 with Leister IV (8th).
Mr. Verrette appreciates the interest that Top Team coaches Leister and Warren have taken in their young man. “Their love for the sport and for Tommy stands out as they craft another world champion-to-be.”
Warren, the 2006 World Greco gold medalist, is now Top Team’s head coach. His philosophy is “based on precise technique. We use the 90/10 rule: if it’s not effective 90% of the time, we find moves that are.
”When he puts his mind to it, Tommy can achieve any goal he sets. He’s a special talent: focused and driven but unlike some gifted athletes, he’s very coachable and open-minded. He trusts me in his corner.”
University of Northern Colorado Coach Troy Nickerson has welcomed Tommy to train at their ROTC, while UNC’s Andrew Aliras – a Colorado 4-timer and 2023 NCAA champion – has held individual teaching sessions for Tommy.
Next year, Tommy has set his sights on winning the UWW 17U World Greco Championship in Paris. Beyond that, the top student-athlete plans on earning an NCAA title and achieving Olympic gold.
“I have enjoyed driving down the highway seeing Tommy's picture on our semi-truck, arm raised as he humbly straps the RMN World Championship belt around his shoulder,” Gutierrez recites. “Now to see it become a reality for another level of world championships is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Although he loves wrestling any style, Tommy’s favorite is Greco. “I appreciate the creativity and physicality of the international style, especially Greco since it requires discipline. Either you open up or get called for passivity. Wrestlers really engage with one another. The challenge is to find who is stronger and can last longer.
“Wrestling humbles you but then teaches you work ethic and humility. When I was eight, I finished 4th at Iowa’s Corncob Nationals. Reflecting afterward, I realized that no loss in wrestling is a loss if you learn from it. You respect yourself by having respect for your opponents.
“Now I understand that success requires the proper mindset and the appropriate preparation. It’s what you do when no one else is watching. I’ve learned the discipline to set limits and the heart to put a hundred percent into everything I do.”
Thomas and Stephanie “feel blessed to have a son like Tommy. Aside from wrestling, his biggest goal his freshman year was to earn straight A’s, which he did second semester. That will give him incredible options in college and surround him with good people.
“His maturity is what most impresses me. Every morning he writes down three goals to accomplish that day.
I saw him take more losses in his first year of high school than in his entire career, then bounce back to win the state championship.”
“Wrestling has also changed our family. My wife and I know we need to set an example through how we live our own lives. If we demonstrate our capacity to overcome adversity, then we model that process for him.”
For Tommy, “This sport draws upon raw emotion. Wrestling has helped me find the deeper person inside. My belief is that a person can only be as good as they want to be. I know now, with the proper tools I can achieve all I set out to do.
“I try to model myself after my father. He works hard so I can have the opportunity to go across the country and the world. From him, I have absorbed the integrity and the focus needed to accomplish my end goals.”
Note: Past RMN Champions comprised six finalists at Fargo in 2023: Tommy Verrette, Black Fox / Top Team CO, 16U 138 lb. (1st Greco, 3rd freestyle in both 2022 & 2023); Otto Black, Black Fox CO, 18U 132 lb. (1st Greco 2023, 2022); Zao Estrada, Sons of Thunder SC, 18U 112 lb. (2nd girls freestyle); Caleb Noble, Todd 'Em Up IL, 16U 100 lb. (1st Greco, 2nd freestyle); Aaron Stewart, Toss 'Em Up IL, 16U 160 lb. (1st Greco, 1st freestyle); and Kyler Larkin, Valiant AZ, 18U 132 lb. (1st freestyle).