Harrison Smith is a young man who found himself in the only circle that truly matters — the wrestling circle. Competitive soccer was his world until he stepped onto the mat and discovered the passion that would redefine his life. His journey is compelling, thoughtful, and absolutely worth the listen. In this episode, Harrison sits down with Daniel and walks us through the story of how he became the Fargo National Champion he is today.

Harrison is committed to becoming the best athlete possible. He trains year-round in club and with his high school coach, and even when he’s “on vacation,” he’s not really on vacation. During his annual trips to Japan, Harrison still finds mats to train on, soaking up technique and discipline from Japanese wrestlers.

His dedication is paying off. Harrison is one of the few Nevada Fargo Champions, earning his title in Greco with a massive throw and a statement-making pin. He’s also a state champion, and his list of accolades continues to grow as he enters his junior season.

But Harrison’s excellence goes far beyond wrestling. He’s an equally strong student and an exceptional young man. With his academics solid and his discipline unmatched, he’s opening doors to countless opportunities. Harrison credits his success to a strong support system — his parents, his sister, and his coaches — who continue to fuel his drive.

Rigo, a 106-pound warrior and true lifer in the wrestling room, reflects on his four years on the mat. Wrestling was never part of his plan — in fact, he only stepped into the sport because his P.E. teacher encouraged him to try out. That simple moment changed everything, leading us to meet one of Eldorado’s most battle-tested wrestlers.

Across his career, Rigo built an impressive résumé:

• 4× State Qualifier
• 4× Regional Placer
• 1× Regional Champion
• 2× Regional Finalist
• 2× State Placer (3rd as a freshman, 3rd as a junior)
• 100+ career wins

His sophomore year took a tough turn when a false impetigo claim cost him his chance to compete at state.

During his senior year, life hit even harder. A death in the family forced Rigo away from the mat, and the fear of failure started to creep in. For a moment, he walked away from wrestling entirely. But eventually, he found his way back home — to the Eldorado wrestling room — and rediscovered his purpose: to finish what he started.

Rigo credits wrestling for shaping who he is today and giving him lifelong friendships. His story isn’t the fairytale of chasing a state title — because most athletes never reach that top step. Instead, his journey is about resilience, consistency, and becoming a cornerstone of a program. He embraced being one of the faces of the room, pushing others to commit, work hard, and believe.

Rigo returned, finished strong, and cemented himself as one of the most decorated wrestlers in one of Las Vegas’ most iconic high school programs.

Bill, an Illinois native, walks us through his journey of relocating to Las Vegas and becoming a driving force in the growth of wrestling across Nevada. From elevating the international wrestling scene to igniting momentum in women’s wrestling, Bill has played a major role in shaping the sport’s evolution here.

He opened Legends of Gold Las Vegas, inspired by the training center his son once attended. L.O.G. was built during the pandemic to give wrestlers a safe place to train, stay focused, and stay out of trouble. Since then, Bill has developed a powerhouse of Olympic–style wrestling, producing multiple world team members and elite athletes.

Bill also made his mark in the high school arena, building a dynasty in pink — the SLAM girls program. Under his leadership, they earned multiple state champions, team state titles, national rankings, individually ranked athletes, and a long list of girls continuing their careers in college.

To Bill, the mat is home. He has coached both USA men’s and women’s teams, and now he has reached his highest honor yet: becoming the head coach of an entire country’s national team. Alongside this, he continues to learn, grow, and evolve — driven in part by the remarkable career of his son Billy.

Bill remains committed to providing opportunities for every athlete seeking the sport, continuing his mission through Legends of Gold Las Vegas, where wrestlers of all levels find direction, discipline, and a path forward.

Skyler Woods was a time-bomb on the mat during his wrestling days — and not much has changed now that he’s in the coach’s corner. His passion runs deep, and that same fire now fuels the athletes who wrestle for him.

Well-accomplished and highly respected in Nevada’s wrestling scene, Skyler’s story began with a twist of fate — being too small for basketball opened the door to the wrestling room. Once he stepped inside, the Woods family found their calling. Since then, their bloodline has become synonymous with success: state champions, a Fargo champion, All-Americans, a women’s state champion, and college wrestlers — even Division I athletes. Truly, a Nevada wrestling family.

In this episode, Skyler opens up about his journey — from his very first match against the host Daniel’s older brother, Ricardo, to competing for the University of Oregon, and ultimately returning home to lead the Virgin Valley High School wrestling program. Now, Skyler has transformed his passion from the mat into mentorship, guiding young athletes across every sport he touches. His story is one of fire, faith, and full-circle purpose.

Dylan kicks off the podcast by sharing his early experiences in motocross — racing dirt bikes for miles on end, through every kind of weather, from a young age. His childhood was filled with sports, each shaping his athletic foundation, but football and wrestling stood out most.

Even as a kid, Dylan dreamed of being a multi-collegiate athlete — a goal he ultimately achieved at Arizona Christian University. Though wrestling has always been his first love, the thrill and adrenaline of football remain a passion he can’t quite shake.

With impressive accomplishments in both sports, Dylan has truly found a way to live out his dream — balancing his two greatest athletic loves and proving that dedication can make even the wildest goals possible.

David Mackey — a dad first and foremost — only stepped onto the mat for one reason: his kids. His coaching journey began simply as a way to help out during practices, using his strengths to support the team. But his natural organization skills and drive to lead quickly took shape. A self-proclaimed control freak, Coach Mackey found his place — thriving in the Robin role to Batman.

When his son Jaxen entered high school, a need arose. The program at Basic High School needed a coach, and Jaxen needed his father to step up. Though he’d only been an assistant coach and had mainly worked with the girls, Coach Mackey took on the challenge. Under his leadership, Basic’s wrestling program grew into a successful and respected team.

Now, having stepped away from the high school spotlight, Coach Mackey continues to contribute behind the scenes — exactly where he shines most. Being Batman isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay — because Robin is just as important.

Daniel and Koran dive into the Division 1 boys’ matchups at the All-Star Classic. They break down each pairing, share their thoughts and picks, and discuss the unique circumstances surrounding some of the bouts. After making their selections, the two add their own twist — highlighting the key matchups they believe could steal the show.

Diego Chavez stepped through the ropes of life that ultimately led him to the ring. Once a troubled kid, his mother encouraged him to find an outlet — and that outlet became wrestling. What began as a way to stay out of trouble quickly turned into a passion. Through hard work and the grind of the wrestling room, Diego found his voice on the mat — and before long, he was too focused and too tired to get into trouble.

As time went on, Diego wasn’t sure if college wrestling was the next step. But when one door closed, another opened — boxing. Fighting runs deep in the Chavez family, and Diego decided to carry on that legacy.

Now, the same discipline and fire that fueled his success in wrestling have carried over to the boxing ring. Diego continues to chase greatness — and with every round, he’s proving that his new passion is just getting started.

Logan Berrier — a small-framed baseball player with Division I dreams. Funny how his size was once seen as a weakness, yet today, he’s a professional pitcher. Coincidence? Hardly. Logan always knew he’d make it. Some things just can’t measure the size of the dog in the fight.

With the odds stacked against him, Logan made the most of every opportunity. Coming from a good—but not great—high school, he stood out through sheer determination. His hard work led him to a junior college opportunity, and during his senior summer, a chance meeting with Coach O from Eldorado changed everything. Under Coach O’s guidance, Logan earned several big-time opportunities—one of which would alter his life forever: Longwood University.

After signing to play Division I baseball, Logan packed his bags and moved to Virginia to chase his dream. His career at Longwood was a success, and after entering the transfer portal, he found his next home in Maryland, where he put up some of the best numbers in the league.

Even when the MLB Draft didn’t call, Logan didn’t waver. He stayed all in, committed to the grind. Months later, that long-awaited moment arrived—Logan got the call.

He’s now a Detroit Tiger.

Dreams do come true—even for a kid from North Las Vegas.

Isaac Balden, a passionate wrestler and true super fan of the sport, shares his athletic beginnings. Starting his wrestling journey in the Liberty High School youth program, he later transitioned to Pete’s — now known as Gold Rush. Throughout his youth, Isaac tried several sports, but none resonated with him quite like wrestling.

Committed to reaching great heights, Isaac expresses deep gratitude for both the SLAM and Gold Rush wrestling rooms. Surrounded by teammates who share his ambitions, he thrives in an environment that challenges him to improve every day. The high caliber of training partners continues to fuel his pursuit of Division I aspirations — a goal he’s determined to achieve.

Driven, focused, and mentally tough, Isaac approaches every practice and match with the same intensity and belief that define him both on and off the mat.