March 17, 2007: Uintah Basin Standard

Bird Family Totals Four Champs in 15 Years of Wrestling Action
by Aldon Rachele

The Bird brothers, Bobby, Jamey, Rusty and Randy, have one thing in common besides their last names—state wrestling championships. When Randy Bird, Altamont, beat John Herrera, a defending champ,10-3, for the 145 pound 1-A title this year he joined a special club—the Bird Champs -- with four members.

Bobby Bird became the first champ at 125 pounds in 1995 and one year later, Jamey Bird won a 105 pound crown. Rusty Bird took the 1-A 152 pound championship in 2003.

When the Bird brothers get together at the Randy and Dixie Bird home (dad and mom) it is almost like Wrestlemania without Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. The family even has a mat in their house with the three younger brothers trying to see if they can defeat older brother, Bobby.

“It I give one inch they take a mile, and I have to stay on my toes all the time. Now I'm the smallest one of them. Sometimes we all give up because we are too tired,” said Bobby. “We don't wrestle dad because we can't get our arms around him. I wrestled my mom one time and we broke a lamp.” Dixie's brothers (Grants) wrestled at Union and Duchesne High Schools.

Bobby became the first Randy Bird Sr. family member to become a state champion at Altamont when he decisioned Jackson from Wayne High School, 9-2. Bird had a two-point near fall in the third round.

Bird had been in the championship finals as a sophomore and junior, but had to settle for second place. He finally won it all as a senior. Bird had defeated Roger Smith of Piute, twice, during the regular season, but lost to him at the state meet title match in 1994. Smith went on to become a four-time state champ.

Altamont's Bird was happy to finally win one because he was determined not to be a runner-up again in his last year of wrestling.

Jamey Bird as a freshman had the fastest pin at the state meet in 42 seconds and beat a Milford wrestler. He won his state title and then decided not to wrestle in his remaining years in high school.

Rusty Bird placed third, second, twice, and won his state championship as a senior when he decisioned King of Piute, 8-4.

Randy Bird pinned Herrera at the region title match and then scored a decision win for the 2007 state crown. He dropped Herrera to the mat for a takedown in the first round. Bird added another takedown and a near fall to go up 7-1. He cruised to a seven-point win.

“I used the high school spinner to get near fall points. I pulled his arm underneath, stood up on my feet and put him to his back,” Randy said.

Randy placed second last year and wanted to continue the tradition of Bird state champions and have something to brag about at family mat battles.

“I wrestle my brothers every time they come over to our house. We teach each other new stuff. My brother, Rusty usually win,” Randy said.

Three Birds, Jamey, Randy and Rusty like the ¾ Nelson stack, which they started doing when young. It is the type of hold that once it is applied a pin is almost for certain. While in high school, Bobby was known as a takedown specialist because he was better at wrestling on his feet and wasn't considered a “pinner.”

Randy likes to keep wrestling simple.

“I like the half for a pin. People aren't ready for a simple basic half-Nelson,” he said

Randy graduated early from Altamont and already has a job working in the oil field, but he hasn't quit wrestling. He plans to coach youngsters in the Tiger League wrestling program in Altamont.

Bobby is also a mat coach, but not at Altamont High, but Duchesne High School. He is married to April Skewes of Duchesne. Their dad, Randy was the four Bird brothers first coach.

“I used to wrestle Curtis Skewes and married his cousin. I still have a lot of good friends in Altamont. I wanted to be involved in wrestling and so I'm coaching. Duchesne wanted to take state, but it didn't go our way. Altamont (won state team title) came out ready to wrestle,” he said.