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For Klein senior Roberto Bautista, wrestling isn't just an extracurricular activity at which he excels. It's actually in his family's DNA.
Roberto continues a family tradition set by his father and his grandfather before him. According to Click2 Houston, Roberto's father, Joaquin, was the wrestling state champion at Santa Fe High School in New Mexico and a member of the University of Minnesota wrestling team while his grandfather, Jesus, was an All-American in the sport.
"It’s been a family sport for generations," Joaquin told Click2Houston. "He’s been one to carry on the legacy in our family and we hope to do the same thing. We knew we were going to wrestle. We were going to keep it in our family forever. We expect us to be the best family in Texas in wrestling."
Roberto's older siblings helped continued the tradition of success on the mat. Christina captured the state title at Colleyville Heritage High School and was a two-time All-American before going to to be assistant wrestling coach at Cinco Ranch High School. Joaquin Jr., who's wrestling collegiately at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, was a state finalist at Cy Lakes.
Coached by his father at Klein, Roberto looks to create his own legacy. As a sophomore at Klein High School, Roberto took fourth at State and finished as a State runner-up in his junior year.
"I started him in the little kids program," Joaquin said. "Because I was competing and training so much, that was my chance to spend time with him. I’ve been developing him since he was small for this."
The senior is determined to finish his prep career with a state crown after finishing as a runner-up last year. He and his father have been working to improve and win the next time he enters competition.
"It’s tough but it’s also really good because he pushes me more and more every day and makes me the best I can be," Roberto told Click2Houston. "Overall, he makes me a good wrestler."