When Cory Hintz joined the Green River Grapplers wrestling team, it was the start of an amazing career that included a great deal of success at both the high school and collegiate levels.
The Green River resident was recently recognized for his tremendous accomplishments when he was named to the 2015 Class of the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Hintz said his longtime friend and current Western Wyoming Community College wrestling coach Art Castillo nominated him for the hall last year, and called to tell him he would be inducted February 28.
“I thought he was kidding, but he told me it was the real deal,” Hintz said. “I was kind of speechless, but I thanked him. It’s exciting and humbling. I’m very grateful. It’s a very prestigious honor.”
A 1997 graduate of Green River High School, Hintz was a two-time state placer and was a member of three state championship teams.
During his senior year, Hintz was a team captain and placed fifth at the highly-regarded Reno Tournament of Champions.
After high school, Hintz started his college career at Northwest College in Powell, where he was a two time All-American, a NJCAA Region IX Champion. He was also a two-time captain of the team and helped lead them to that Region IX team title.
After two years in Powell, Hintz moved on to the University of Southern Colorado where he was once again a two-time All-American and team captain.
Other accolades during his time in Colorado included winning the Colorado Collegiate Championship and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference twice.
During his junior year of college, Hintz was named to the All-American Cultural Exchange Program where he placed in both greco and freestyle against international wrestlers from Hungry and Slovakia.
Following college, Hintz joined the United States Navy where he spent nearly seven years stationed overseas.
After leaving the Navy, he returned home to Green River where he continues to be involved with wrestling and has worked as an assistant with WWCC and the Green River Grapplers.
Hintz said he is very happy to continue to work with the Grapplers and very thankful for the time with the club.
“Green River has a great tradition of wrestling and it starts with the grapplers,” Hintz said.
He also thanked his coaches growing up. He said he could not have gotten to where he was without coaches like Raul Gardea, Brett Graham, Bill Hodges, Tom Seamans.
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