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Chilling night on the mat: rivalry wrestling outdoors

The Arapahoe Warriors and the Heritage Eagles wrestling teams hit the mat outdoors for a dual under the stars.

The Arapahoe and Heritage high school rivalry has been around for more than four decades. One of the oldest in Littleton, every time the Warriors and Eagles match up, it's memorable.

"We go all out with everything we do with all our sports," Heritage junior Grason Randall said. "That's what we do with Arapahoe."

So after playing each other countless times in numerous settings, you would think their meetings could blur. Enter Heritage head wrestling coach Joe Swanson and Arapahoe head coach Steve Sisler. After skipping their rivaling meetings the past couple of years, the two looked to renew their fight -- in a setting you typically don't find for the sport.

"People didn't believe us. When we turn in our schedule for transportation and official assigning and getting reservations, people did not believe us," Sisler said. "We brought it to the principals and the ADs and the district leadership and they let us do it. It's pretty crazy."

Most would agree. They decided to hold their annual dual at Littleton Public Schools Stadium. That's right -- outdoors, under the lights, December in Colorado.

"When I first stepped out of the locker room, I just knew right away, I'm gonna need a few -- couple of jackets on," Arapahoe senior Riley Ohana said. "The adrenaline pumping through my veins, I knew what I had to do. I wasn't cold one bit."

On nights like these it less about the wins and losses and more about the experience. Heritage junior Grason Randall said, "This is something I'm going to remember. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it again next year."

Arapahoe won the first outdoor meeting, but the coaches between the two schools are already discussing the options to hold another outdoor match-up next year. 





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