All-Gender Wrestling Co-Captain Julian Rios ’26 has spent more than a decade perfecting his craft in the sport, and his passion is evident both on and off the mat. From the first days on the Boys & Girls Club mat as a six-year-old to now a co-captain, Rios has come a long way both as an athlete and a person.
Rios credits much of his initial interest in wrestling to his father, a high school wrestler. He notes that his first experience wrestling was primarily because of him.
Rios said, “My dad wrestled in high school when he was younger… I wasn’t really big into a lot of sports when I was younger, but my dad got me onto the mat for the first time when I was six or seven years old at the Boys & Girls Club, and then I just started wrestling from there.”
Wrestling, as a sport, pushed him to develop physically and mentally. He noted that wrestling is all about how much effort you put in.
“It’s a tough sport, and I’m very competitive. It’s a great showing of character — who you are. Being able to push through adversity, that’s my favorite part of the sport. You get out what you put in. If you put in a lot of effort, you will be good. If you don’t put in a lot of effort, you’re not gonna be good. Going and trying to get better every single day in the room, I saw I got better, and I got better results. I kept driving myself more to keep pushing myself and wrestle my best,” said Rios.
Rios’s leadership style echoes his belief in improving in wrestling itself. He adds that, although the team is supportive, discipline and dedication are the keys to improving at the sport, and he is willing to help any wrestler with any questions.
Rios said, “I wanna push the kids and want them to get better and push the team overall, so everyone wants to get better on the team. That starts with building a good community where we, as wrestlers, understand the hard way of discipline… I’m always willing to help anyone on the team if they have anything or need help with the move. I want to make the experience feel welcoming, but I want them to understand that we’re still also trying to get better.”
Sean Flynn ’27 shared how Rios fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among the wrestlers, building strong relationships that extend beyond the mat. Flynn emphasized Rios’s ability to connect with his teammates, creating a cohesive and supportive environment that strengthens the team as a whole.
“He has become very close with all the players even outside of school and wrestling, which makes a great leader. Like in meets, he would definitely lead the team in his performance. He is very skilled, and he knows a lot of techniques, but he also leads the team as well,” said Flynn.
Caleb Beroukhim ’27 said he admired Rios’s wrestling ability. He noted that Rios helped him with technique and moves many times and has helped him improve immensely.
Beroukhim said, ”It’s amazing to watch him. Honestly, I don’t understand what move he does, but somehow, it works every time. He’s incredible. He has helped me so much in learning new moves and techniques, and he has helped me improve immensely.”
For Rios, pressure doesn’t serve as a roadblock; it fuels his determination. Rios’s resilience is a key aspect of his identity, both as a wrestler and a student-athlete. For Rios, success isn’t always about the easiest path — it’s about perseverance in the face of challenges.
“As a wrestler, my biggest strength is my ability to keep going when times get tough. With schoolwork, wrestling, and everything else, there can be a lot of pressure, but I’ve always been able to push through those adversities. That pressure can drive kids to do better and better themselves or make them shy away. I’ve just been able to keep pushing through these adversities and not quit, and I think that’s a really good trait I have,” said Rios.
He’s already considering his future plans. He’d like to continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level; although he’s not quite sure what’s in store down the road for him.
Rios said, “I’m taking it one step at a time… I don’t know about after college or anything like that, but I do hope to go to college for wrestling.”
Rios continues to make waves in the New England Prep School scene and hopes to win the National Prep Championship for his weight class.
