A high school wrestler's triumph is inspiring the Hesston community days after a tragic mass shooting took the lives of four people, including the shooter.
Hesston High School senior Juan Guzman was set to compete in the state wrestling tournament last Friday.
In the days leading up to the tournament, Guzman said his biggest goal was to not be distracted. He spent nights at home, made sure to get hydrated and focused on the matches ahead. Above all else, he wanted a medal to hang on his senior year.
Then, on Thursday, terror struck close to home. A gunman shot and killed three people while injuring 14 others, many of whom worked at the Excel Industries building in town.
Guzman's father was inside at the time of the shooting.
"He said that one of the guys that died in the parking lot got shot right near him," Guzman said.
The shooting happened on the same day the Hesston High School team was heading to the tournament.
"We were getting updates all the time," said coach Doug Broadfoot. "We all wanted to come home but we still had to compete at the tournament."
Guzman kept in contact with his family, and when his mom told him his father was OK, he continued to focus on the tournament.
"Right before the tournament, I told myself, 'You're not just wrestling for yourself. I'm wrestling for my friends, everyone back home, my parents, and the community,'" he said.
Facing circumstances many can only imagine, Guzman fought through the competition. His final win on Saturday came in overtime.
As a result of the win, Guzman finished high enough to receive a medal.
"Once you get a medal, it's all yours," he said. "No one can ever take it away."
Days after the tragic shooting, his win is giving the people of Hesston something to smile about.
"I wanted to bring back a medal even more with the tragedy," Guzman explained. "I wanted to do it for the whole community."
Guzman's father is back home after making it out of the Excel Industries building on Thursday.
Guzman said the medal-winning experience is something he will never forget, and he is especially thankful for his parents now.
"I have learned a lot of things," he explained. "Don't take your parents for granted because you never know when it's the last time you'll ever see them."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
