Thousands of high school wrestlers started their season with one goal: to make the state tournament.
For two Berthoud High wrestlers, that goal took on a new meaning, and a new importance, after a horrific accident last month. On Jan. 15, Nikko Landeros and Tyler Carron each lost both of their legs in the accident, and doctors said they wouldn’t leave the hospital for at least six weeks.
A Pepsi Center crowd erupted with cheers last Thursday when the two were honored midway through Colorado’s 72nd annual prep wrestling tournament.
Landeros and Carron had made it to state.
Out of the hospital and moving forward with their young lives, the two are the living embodiment of courage and character. Rather than hide away and dwell on a night that forever changed their lives, these remarkable teens have chosen to make the most of their lives and in the process have become an inspiration to their community and their teammates.
Teenage years can be tough. It’s often an uncomfortable time of adjustment and growth, where kids try to figure out who they are and their place in the world. Landeros and Carron certainly couldn’t be blamed if they started down a path of self-pity.
But they’ve bravely chosen to live large. We salute their courage, and admire the way the close-knit community of Berthoud has rallied around the teens.
