Craig Daily Press

Craig — Three years ago, 6-year-old Deven Mosman sat on his grandfather Bud’s lap, having a conversation.

Deven’s grandmother, Penny Nelson, said she couldn’t believe what she heard.

“All Deven would talk about was being a state champion wrestler in high school,” she said. “And, after that, he said he wanted to go to the Olympics.

“To have goals like that at 6 is awesome.”

The time: now.

Mosman — now 9 — is on his way to fulfilling that statement.

He already is the Colorado youth wrestling state champion and seventh-place national finisher. He added to his young resume on Saturday and Sunday at the Newcastle Invite.

In the Bad Dogs Youth Wrestling season finale, Mosman and two teammates earned the Northwestern Colorado Wrestling League’s most outstanding wrestler award.

“My goal was to be state champ, and I did it this year,” Mosman said. “It was harder this year because the kids are tougher than usual that I wrestled against. But, I had a lot of fun.”

And why not.

Mosman started the season wrestling in the 8-and-younger category, not losing a match. His lone loss in the state came two weeks ago, when he wrestled in the 10-and-younger bracket.

“Deven, that kid is amazing,” Bad Dogs coach Billy Bingham said. “All the kids stepped up to the plate this season and took care of business.”

Heath Peters won outstanding wrestler in the 12-and-younger division, and Cole Schumacher claimed the title in the 14-and-younger division.

The Bad Dogs totaled nine first-place finishes at the event, with Bingham stating many of those who placed second finished runner-up to their own teammate.

“The kids that didn’t win lost to our own team,” he said. “We don’t travel 500 miles to not win. These kids are phenomenal with what they’ve done.”

The team carries 40 wrestlers, but Bingham said the waiting list is “growing every year.”

“Everybody wants to be a Bad Dog,” he said. “It’s a tribute to how hard these kids work. People around the country know about the kids we have here and how hard they will fight to become future state champions.”

Bingham and fellow coach Kelly Mosman said they think the next crop of champs already is on the way.

“The 8- to 10-year-olds we have are sick,” Kelly Mosman said. “If they stick together, I guarantee they will be bringing home state championships.”

Bingham echoed his fellow coach’s sentiments.

“I don’t know what’s in the water, but man,” Bingham said, “if all the pieces fit together, and everybody sticks together, we will for sure have state champions in that group. Everybody in Craig will reap the benefits.”

The Bad Dogs are losing one wrestler this off-season — Heath Peters is moving — but Bingham thinks the team won’t lose a beat.

“We have kids lining up to join,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be a Bad Dog.”

The youth wrestling season starts back up in October.

Until then, the team has three camps scheduled for both the wrestlers and the coaches.

“At these camps, these kids wrestle morning to night,” Bingham said. “We go there to learn. All of us. Coaches too.”

Bingham said the trips to camps and tournaments help the wrestlers in more ways than one.

“They get to practice,” he said. “But they also learn how to be away from their mommies and how to grow up. We are strict, but the kids love it. If they don’t want to work hard, there’s the door. I got more coming in.

“More wrestlers, more work ethic and, possibly, more future state champions.”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com