The area around Page, on the Arizona-border, as well as many other areas in northern Arizona, is wrapped up in the basketball sectionals and state tournaments at this time of year.

Wrestling? Not nearly as much.

But there are talented wrestlers out there, and what they do is just as important to them as those shooting hoops.

A good example is Kemp Todacheene, a 132-pounder from Page High who enters this weekend’s Division III state tournament in Prescott Valley as the champion from Section II, earned in the section tournament last weekend at Winslow High.

Todacheene finished fifth in the state last year as a junior, and has greatly improved to the point where there is a good possibility he could challenge for a state title. He has a 34-4 record coming in.

He is looking forward to the state meet, but doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.

“I am taking each match one at a time, trying to use the moves I have practiced,’’ he said.

Todacheene began wrestling in the sixth grade because his father, Lance, had wrestled when he was in the Marines.

“The sport teaches you how to be tough, work hard and have goals,’’ Todacheene said.

Many of his friends, meanwhile, continued to sharpen their basketball skills. He said he played “just for fun, but I let them do their thing.’’

Todacheene has done his thing, too, away from the wrestling mat. He has become an accomplished skateboarder, a sport thought by some to be more conducive to those living in larger metropolitan areas.

“I like to exercise, and skateboarding helps me with that,’’ he said. “Some of the areas here are not the best (for skateboarding), but some of them are pretty good.’’

Page wrestling coach Kyran Keisling said he has seen videos of Todacheene on wheels, and says it has helped with the athlete’s agility and quickness.

“I think he is a pure athlete,’’ Keisling said.

“Having his body be balanced seems like is something he was born with. He has good body awareness, and is almost cat-like. Some of his technique is not traditional, but he gets the job done. He has amazing core tension.’’

The coach said Todacheene also has a good mental approach.

“He is very focused, doesn’t seem to get nervous or worried if he gets behind and he doesn’t get too excited. He is calm and he is humble,’’ Keisling said.

Todacheene is peaking at the right time, the coach said, having recovered from a bout with the flu that dogged him for about a week and affected him somewhat at the Sand Devil Classic in Page a few weeks ago.

Page doesn’t have a lot of depth, but does have a couple of top wrestlers in addition to Todacheene – Julius Descheenie at 152 pounds and Wyman Yellowhair at 126.

Todacheene said he tries not to rush his moves against opponents, “just wait for my opportunity. I try to wrestle smart and not have to wrestle on my back.’’

He makes sure his grades don’t become a problem, and lists English as his favorite subject.

After he graduates from Page, Todacheene likely will go to a trade school and said one possibility is becoming an auto mechanic. His father thinks it will be a good route to go.

Having a championship medal would be a good conversation piece, wherever he goes in the future.