WASHBURN, Maine — James “Chico” Hernandez is getting ready to leave for another international wrestling competition.
The Caribou High School varsity wrestling coach has been competing in the sport for nearly 50 years. His latest adventure is a trip to Morocco for the World Masters Sambo Championships.
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport and one of several styles of wrestling.
The tournament will be held from Oct. 19-22 and the 64-year-old is looking forward to spending time in Africa, his first time on the continent, and seeing what he can do on the mat. He will be competing in the 60-65 year-old age division.
“I want to just go over and be a decent tourist, wrestle well and make some new friends,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez last competed internationally in 2016 at a submission grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in Ireland, where he picked up two gold medals and a silver.
