Wellington area wrestler aspires to larger stage

February 11, 2009

Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

 

He may have just turned 18 on Jan. 30, but already Bobby Castorino sounds like somebody’s dad, a throwback to a Robert from another era — actor Robert Young from “Father Knows Best.”

Since that popular television series ended in 1963, the Poudre High School senior would probably never compare himself to the show’s beloved patriarch Jim Anderson. Bobby is much more likely to associate himself with the likes of his favorite professional wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, The Rock and Triple H.

This varsity wrestler sees himself as something of a father figure, though, and imagines someday so, too, will the rest of the world. Bobby Castorino aspires to become “Big Daddy” on the professional wrestling circuit.

“It’s been my dream ever since I was 8 years old,” Bobby admitted. “We were over at a friend’s house watching TV and I saw her watch wrestling. It was fascinating how she was so into it, yelling at the screen, crying. It’d be so cool to be able to make people laugh and cry like that.”

In the process of researching how to break into the business, Bobby discovered The Wild Samoan Training Center. The name may ring a bell as Mickey Rourke, Golden Globe winner for Best Actor in the movie “The Wrestler,” has publicly thanked professional wrestling legend Afa, the Wild Samoan, for training him in the fine art of airplane spins and double knee gutbusters.

The school offers 18-month programs in Florida and Pennsylvania, and boasts a roster of wrestler “graduates” that reads like a veritable “Who’s Who” of the sport.

Is professional wrestling a sport? Or is it a vulgar, violent soap opera?

While the question is often debated here in the states, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has taken a stand: “While there is no doubt that it does not partake of the nature of Greco-Roman wrestling or even freestyle wrestling, which audiences have been accustomed to watch as a part of, say, the Olympic Games or college sports or elsewhere, the National Panel has no doubt about its nature. It is sport.”

Bobby isn’t one to say, “Told you so,” but he did say, “It’s not fake; it’s choreographed — big difference. There’s a lot to learn: how to land, how to handle a microphone, how to work the business end.”

The Loveland native is realistic about his future in the ring, considering a knee injury in the eighth grade has kept him off the mats until this year. While he does plan to somehow, literally, fight his way into the wrestling industry, Bobby will register for classes at Front Range Community College following commencement in May, and work hard to save up the $4,000 tuition for wrestling school.

At the moment, though, the 5-foot, 11-inch, 247-pound heavyweight is focused on making it to regionals Feb. 13 in Grand Junction and qualifying for the state tournament Feb. 19-21 at the Pepsi Center.

“I’m just so glad to be on varsity,” Bobby said. “I haven’t won a lot of matches, but I’ve learned a lot from the losses.”

Head wrestling coach Barrett Golyer, who has taught health and physical education for five years at Poudre, agrees.

“Bobby’s fantastic. He’s a great guy,” Golyer said. “For a first-year wrestler, he’s been awesome and has shown some great ability. He’s also fun to be with and works as hard as can be. More than that, he’s improved our team on character.”

Golyer mentioned that Bobby is, in fact, a peer helper with the adaptive physical education students.

“Bobby takes everything in stride,” Golyer said. “He may be the last in sprints, but he finishes every time.”

What does his high school wrestling coach think about Bobby’s dream?

“I don’t doubt he’s going to be successful in other areas,” the former Irish Elementary teacher said. “I just don’t want Bobby selling out for garbage and finding himself in a moral dilemma.”

When it comes to pro wrestling storylines, Bobby favors the traditional good guys, but said he could see himself as “the baby face of the heels.”

The name “Big Daddy” seems especially apropos after learning that his own father left when the boy was 2, and Bobby is now like a father to his 8-year-old sister Joeleen, a first-grader at Eyestone Elementary School. His mom, Lisa, sells Avon and is the reason, he thinks, for his outgoing personality.

“I’m not shy at all,” laughed the PHS Ambassador. “I’ll approach anybody.”

He’s thankful his longtime girlfriend and fellow Poudre senior, Hillaree Churchill, 17, accepts his need to be in the spotlight, perhaps because Bobby is just as dedicated to lending a hand.

“This may sound weird,” he warned, “but when I pass away, I really want people to remember me not as a jerk, but as ‘that really cool kid.’”

Bobby likes to play the video game “Grand Theft Auto” and says he loves to cook. In fact, he looks forward to Wednesday nights when he cooks at the T-Bar Inn, where he works part-time.

Bobby said he’s kind of anxious, kind of not, when it comes to life after PHS.

“Right now I love being part of the Band of Brothers,” Bobby said, showing off his Poudre wrestling T-shirt with the team’s nickname and the ripped Impala on the front and the phrase “No Regrets” on the back. “We are in the same place. We share an attitude.”

His only regret so far is not having been able to continue wrestling after blowing out his knee.

“All I can say is, ‘Live life to the fullest and each day as your last,’” Bobby advised.

Sounds like something a television sitcom father would say, but don’t be surprised to hear something similar in the future coming from the wrestling arena and “Big Daddy” instead.