Hayden Ballantyne has been named wrestleutah.com "Athlete of the Week" for the week of October 3rd, 2016.

Hayden is currently a 2nd grader and is entering his 3rd year of wrestling. Hayden and his older brother started wrestling at the same time and have enjoyed the opportunity to wrestle for Westlake. They are grateful for their coach, Jeff Newby and everything he has taught them.

When Hayden first started wrestling he was a little intimidated by the other wrestlers and the competitions. There were multiple times of crying during a match or after a match where he was defeated. The best feeling was, of course, when he was victorious and had the biggest smile on his face. His victories always encouraged him to return to the mat each week. Hayden works  hard in practice and is a tough kid! He has been progressing each year and is getting better and better. His record is 41-26 and his most recent accomplishment was taking 6th place at the 2016 Utah Youth Super State. His skill level continues to improve and he is looking forward to a strong standing this year.

To nominate someone for the "Youth Athlete of the Week," please submit your nominations to wrestlingutah@gmail.com.