Blue Stiffler Grateful for Support and Reflects on USMC Freestyle Championship Victory In Fargo

"I had to move away from people I knew my entire life to put myself in the best situation for success"- Blue Stiffler

Hoschton, GA - "It felt unbelievable to win Fargo in freestyle, especially with it being my first time at the tournament. After winning I was just grateful to everyone that was apart of my preparation like my coaches and practice partners who were always there when I needed help," said Blue Stiffler, the talented young wrestler from South Carolina who recently made waves on the national scene

by winning the USMC freestyle championships in the 16U division at 138 pounds.

Stiffler's journey as a wrestler at Roundtree wrestling Academy began a few years ago when he caught the attention of Coach Sammy Roundtree during a tournament in Tulsa. "I met Blue through the Sherlock’s 3-4 years ago. They asked me to help coach him at Tulsa because there wasn’t any coaches from South Carolina going to be there. I knew then he was special and could develop into an exceptional wrestler," shared Roundtree.

What sets Stiffler apart as a wrestler is his leadership by example. "Blue is a leader by example. He doesn’t have much to say but is at practice just about every day and will work with any practice partner. From the weakest wrestler in the room to the best kid in the room. He never gets too high or too low. Stays pretty balanced throughout anything he’s dealing with on or off the mat," explained Roundtree.

Coach Roundtree has utilized different training methods and techniques to help Stiffler improve his wrestling abilities. "Blue has multiple older brothers that have wrestled and you can tell when we first were introduced to him. He enjoyed a lot of 'funk' or 'scrambling' in his wrestling but that was one area we had to clean up some. Creating more baseline defense so we limit our opponents scoring opportunities. He also struggled with his offense (leg attacks). We started developing control ties (under hooks, 2-on-1s, etc) to help us get to our offense a lot easier," shared Roundtree.

Stiffler's decision to move from South Carolina to the Roundtree Wrestling Academy in Georgia has had a significant impact on his training and progress. "My motivation to move to Georgia, and to Roundtree came from me realizing that the only way I’d go far in the sport was making the move. I knew that Sammy was the best coach available so I had to pursue him as well as the great partners associated with RWA. I would have been so much worse if I stayed in SC and moving had helped me start to accomplish goals I’ve set in my wrestling career," explained Stiffler.

Looking ahead, Stiffler has set his sights on wrestling at the collegiate level. "Blue wants to wrestle Division 1 in college and gain his degree. Those are his current goals right now as he’s super young for his grade level. He’s 16 going into his junior year. That’s very different right now in the 'holdback' era," shared Roundtree.

Stiffler's success at the USMC freestyle championships has not only brought recognition to himself but has also impacted the wrestling program at Roundtree Wrestling Academy. "Blue’s success at Fargo has benefited him and his peers more than the gym. The kids at the club now believe that any of them can reach that mountain top," said Roundtree.

Following his victory at the tournament, Stiffler received an overwhelming amount of calls from colleges interested in recruiting him. "After winning Fargo, I received calls from numerous colleges expressing their interest in having me join their wrestling programs. It was a surreal experience to have so many coaches reaching out to me," shared Stiffler.

When asked about his advice for aspiring wrestlers, Stiffler emphasized the importance of perseverance and embracing challenges. "My advice for anyone facing an obstacle or challenge is to understand that they make you who you are. I had to move away from people I knew my entire life to put myself in the best situation for success and it’s starting to pay off. Without the obstacles, I don’t think I would’ve been able to achieve the same success I’ve had," shared Stiffler.

As Blue Stiffler continues to make waves in the wrestling world, his success serves as an inspiration to young wrestlers everywhere. With his talent, work ethic, and the guidance of Coach Roundtree, Stiffler is poised to achieve great things in the sport. As he sets his sights on future goals, including a world team spot and another Fargo title, there is no doubt that Stiffler's stock will continue to rise.