One single light hung up over a wrestling mat in the Powell High School gym for the first time since February. 

Was it for a surprise varsity dual in the summer?

Nope.

A total of 49 youth wrestlers (age 5 through eighth grade) came out to the Bighorn Basin Wrestling Camp June 6-8 — as the PHS wrestlers came in to help the youth in a new teaching style this year.

“This year we changed things up a bit and had our high school wrestlers serve as counselors for our local youth wrestlers,” Panthers wrestling coach Nick Fulton said.

Fulton said the camp decided with this path to help teach each group or athlete on techniques they were learning with an individual coach. The camp also allowed high schoolers to learn alongside youth wrestlers as they had to break down the techniques for the students.

“I was really proud of how our high school kids connected with the youngsters, coached them and served as positive role models throughout the three days,” Fulton said.

Overall, 22 high school athletes — along with all of the high school wrestling staff, middle school wrestling staff, USA coaches and former standout PHS wrestlers — attended the event to help teach.

With a large enough staff on hand, Fulton said they were able to break the groups up depending on skill level and find ways to ensure each wrestler improved over the three days.

Ending the week, the young wrestlers got their opportunity to shine, as the Panthers put on one final dual to show those in attendance what it was like to wrestle in a varsity match.

Wrestlers of all ages went out and circled the mat for a warm-up, followed by introductions for each match to give the youth a true varsity match experience.

“It was awesome to watch the younger kids get excited to be under the lights and compete,” Fulton said. “There were some great matches and battles during the dual where kids really displayed what they had learned.”

Overall, Fulton was happy with the success of the camp because athletes that give back to the sport and the program are a hallmark of a successful program.

Fulton said the high school athletes also trained at night throughout the camp in preparation for a camp of their own at Chadron State College next week, June 20-23.