The Junior Trojans wrestling program, led by Benji and Crystal De Santiago, has been making strides in providing a structured and supportive environment for young wrestlers in Pahrump. What began as a small family activity has quickly grown into a community club with a focus on nurturing discipline, hard work, and a passion for the sport.
Benji and Crystal De Santiago first launched the program in November 2023, after realizing that despite wrestling’s popularity in the town, there were no youth opportunities for the sport. “Wrestling is a big sport in this town,” Benji explained. “There was nothing for the youth. I grew up wrestling, her brother grew up wrestling, and all of our friends are wrestlers. It’s a big wrestling community.” The couple initially began with just their two youngest boys, Jacob and Noah, practicing in a small space at the local high school. However, as the community’s interest grew, they decided to make the program official, creating a youth club to fill the gap for kids eager to learn.
The program has rapidly gained attention, drawing in children eager to train during the winter months, when other sports like soccer and baseball are off-season. “There was basketball, but no soccer or baseball,” Crystal noted. “Wrestling was starting to grow, and Benji saw the opportunity to give the kids something to do in the winter.”
The first season of the Junior Trojans saw an initial registration of 25 children, but the rigorous nature of wrestling meant that only 11 finished the season. Benji explained that the sport requires significant dedication. “We had a lot of kids who didn’t realize how much conditioning, hard work, structure, and discipline was involved,” he said. The open mats, held during the preseason, are designed to help parents and kids test the waters before fully committing to the program. “This year, we’re hosting open mats earlier, hoping to give kids and parents a chance to dabble in it before committing fully,” said Crystal.
The De Santiago’s dedication to expanding the club is evident in their efforts to build a strong support network for the young wrestlers. The coaching staff includes Benji, alongside Elias Armendariz, Tyler Cuellar, and Ryan Martinez. Additionally, several high school wrestlers contribute their time, serving as role models for the younger athletes. “We like to bring in seniors from the high school team to show the kids their favorite moves,” Benji said. “It’s great because many of our kids look up to the high school wrestlers—they’ve become little fans.”
The Junior Trojans program is open to both boys and girls from kindergarten through eighth grade, with children as young as five being able to participate. Benji pointed out that while the program is co-ed, there’s a clear push to grow girls’ wrestling in the state. “We had one girl wrestler last year, and we’re hoping to get more girls this year. Girls’ wrestling is catching fire in the state, and we want to support that growth,” he explained.
The team competes in the Southern Nevada Wrestling Association (SNWA), which follows guidance from USA Wrestling. Once girls in the program reach 12 years old, they are required to wrestle other girls, ensuring that they compete in a safe and fair environment as they progress through the sport. “SNWA just created this rule,” Crystal said. “But up until age 12, you’ll see boys and girls wrestling together.”
The program’s open mats typically take place on Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m., though not every Saturday, and give potential wrestlers an opportunity to experience the intensity of the sport before committing. However, the De Santiago’s have had to work around limited facility space, as the high school uses the wrestling room during football season. “We share the room with the high school football team, so it’s tough to host open mats during the summer. But we’ve worked out an agreement to use part of the room when it’s available,” Crystal said.
As the program continues to grow, the De Santiago’s are committed to keeping it accessible. Registration for the upcoming season will begin in mid-October, with practices set to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Fees, which include gear and mat time, will be determined closer to the start of the season, but Benji emphasized that they try to keep costs reasonable. “It’s all based on how many kids sign up. The more kids, the lower the cost per wrestler,” he said.
Tournaments, which are a separate cost, are held most weekends in Las Vegas, with a few events taking place in outlying areas like Moapa and Virgin Valley. Participation in tournaments is optional, allowing families to choose their level of involvement. “We just ask parents to let us know by each Thursday if their child is going to compete so we can register them and get their weigh-ins done,” Crystal explained.
While the program is still growing, the De Santiago’s are proud of the community support they’ve received so far. “We’ve been getting the word out mostly through Facebook and word of mouth,” Crystal said. “We’ve seen a big increase in interest, especially in the last few months.” For those interested in signing up for the Junior Trojans, they can visit the team’s Facebook page, which includes all the latest updates and contact information, or via email.
With a focus on fostering a love for wrestling and creating a disciplined environment, the Junior Trojans wrestling program is helping to shape the next generation of wrestlers in Pahrump. “It’s all about giving the kids something productive to do and teaching them life lessons through the sport,” Benji concluded. “Wrestling teaches discipline, hard work, and respect—and those are values that will carry them through life, both on and off the mat.”
