For Isaac Romero, wrestling has never been just a sport — it’s been a lifeline, a teacher, and a platform for change.
More than two decades after stepping onto a mat in Granger, Washington, Romero has come full circle. The former Boise State Division I wrestler is now bringing the program that raised him — Victory Wrestling Club — to the Tri-Cities.
Founded in 1999 by coach Rene Torres, Victory Wrestling started in a small Lower Valley gym and grew into one of Washington’s premier wrestling programs. Over 25 years, the club has produced more than 75 state champions, five national champions, and countless college athletes. For Romero, he was one of the first.
“I was just a middle school kid when I walked into Victory for the first time,” Romero said. “I didn’t know what I was walking into, but that room changed my life.”
What began as a handful of athletes training on borrowed mats became a statewide force, built on discipline, family, and faith in hard work. Victory earned its name not from wins, but from what the sport teaches — perseverance, humility, and resilience. That’s the culture Romero grew up in, and now, he’s bringing it home to the Tri-Cities.
Now, Romero’s Kennewick chapter carries that same mission forward. Less than one month in, the program was already nearing capacity, showing just how much the community is ready for it. Romero believes wrestling does more than produce
champions — it builds character.
“It’s the toughest sport I know,” he said. “You’re alone out there. No one to blame. No excuses. You learn to own every outcome — and that changes how you face life.”
He teaches his athletes that the lessons learned on the mat translate to the real world: how to handle failure, push through adversity, and show respect through effort. Romero’s credentials speak for themselves — a Division I career at Boise State (After starting his collegiate career at Dickinson State), a lifetime within Victory’s elite training system, and
now a Kennewick PE teacher and father of three daughters, two who wrestle.
He’s seen every side of the sport: the grueling grind, the heartbreaks, the triumphs. And that lived experience shapes everything he brings to his athletes.
“It’s hard to build a champion if you’ve never been one,” Romero said. “Champions build champions. I’ve been through every level — youth, state, college — and I know what it takes.”
The decision to expand Victory into the Tri-Cities wasn’t originally planned — it was born out of convenience. Romero’s daughters were driving to Granger several nights a week to train until it became clear the community needed something closer.
Now, the local program is creating that access — not only for his own kids, but for dozens of others looking to reach higher levels of competition. Perhaps the most personal and unexpected part of Romero’s story is how his daughters reignited his passion for the sport. Seeing their drive inspired him to evolve as a coach and a father.
“It’s proof that toughness, discipline, and drive have no gender. It’s inspiring. When I was growing up, girls’ wrestling barely existed,” he said. “Now it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country — and my girls are right in the middle of it. Coaching girls has made me a better teacher. You have to coach differently — push hard, but also understand how they learn and respond. Girls’ wrestling shows what’s possible.”
Romero says his wrestler’s success represents more than personal pride — it’s symbolic of how wrestling continues to open doors for more athletes than ever before, regardless of gender. For Romero, the expansion isn’t just about competition — it’s about giving kids 
the same chance he had.
“My coach believed in me before I knew how to believe in myself,” he said. “If I can do that for one kid — help them earn a scholarship, change their life — that’s the real victory.”
He reminds his athletes that wrestling is a path to more than medals. It’s a platform to build a future. With the Kennewick chapter nearly full just weeks after opening, the future looks bright. But for Romero, success isn’t measured in numbers — it’s measured in impact.
“We’re not just building wrestlers,” he said. “We’re building leaders, families, and a community of kids who know how to work, believe, and overcome.”