Community Champions: Local wrestlers shine in hometown tournament

El Paso is a wrestling town, no doubt.

Just ask the Hanks girls wrestling team, which recently won their sixth consecutive UIL state title.

But the talent isn’t just confined to the high school level.

Recently, several young wrestlers represented our city well at the Texas USA Wrestling Championships here in El Paso, including Ethan Franklin and Eden Cordero. And now they are Community Champions sponsored by Albertsons and the El Paso Community Foundation.

Franklin, who will soon be attending Eastwood High School, won the tournament title in his weight class (110 lbs.) to cap off what has been an incredible run.

He also won all five Texas National tournaments to cement his place as one of the top young wrestlers around.

But he credits his teammates for all his success.

“It’s not just me. They push me to my limit and helped become who I am,” he said. “And it’s just an amazing experience to practice with them and wrestle with them.”

The fact his friends and family could also see him wrestle this past weekend in El Paso made it that much sweeter.

“It was amazing to see all of my teammates, all my family and friends watch me wrestle. And especially to win the tournament in El Paso was cool,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eden Cordero came home with not one, but two gold medals from the Texas USA Wrestling meet in her hometown.

She claimed the top prize in her weight class in the girls division AND also went on to win the open division, which includes boys.

“It was tough, and they were strong. But my coach pushed me hard, and I got first,” she said.

For many of the young male wrestlers she defeated, it was the first time they tasted defeat against a girl. So, how did they handle it?

“They do cry,” she said. “They cry, they get sad. They can’t believe they just lost to a girl.”