Billy Murphy, a 2006 Hughson High School graduate and two-time CIF State Boys Wrestling Meet champion, will serve as the lead instructor of the California Champ Camp next month in Ceres.

Lilly Avalos, a 2023 Pitman grad and state champ in the girls division as a senior, has committed to serve as a technician at the camp. She earned a grappling scholarship to Vanguard University.

“We want to make the camp better every year,” said Curtis Hulstine, director of the clinic, head coach of Ceres High’s girls wrestling program, a CIF State Meet qualifier with the Bulldogs in 2010 and Murphy’s younger brother. “Getting a more recent state champ makes us more recognizable. I’ve enjoyed watching Lilly wrestle. She’s a stud. I’m a big fan.”

The 2nd annual Champ Camp will be staged, July 14-16, at Ceres High School.

The clinic is open to wrestlers, ages 4-18.

Registration ranges from $65-$2,000.

Cost is $175 for advanced (middle school/high school) and $65 for beginners (elementary).

Cost is $2,000 per high school team (14 wrestlers).

Beginners will receive three hours of instruction.

Advanced will receive 15 hours of instruction.

To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/california-champ-camp-tickets-567349356197

“Wrestling is growing like crazy,” Hulstine said. “This is another opportunity for kids in our area to get better. The camp is for everybody at all levels.”

Approximately 75 grapplers, including more than a combined 30 from the Ceres High, Mae Hensley Jr. High and Ceres Pups wrestling programs, signed up for 2022 camp.

The camp consisted of two, two-hour sessions and one 90-minute session each day.

Hulstine and Murphy changed the format of this year’s camp.

The clinic was split into two groups.

“We started planning for this year when last year’s camp ended,” Hulstine said. “The reason we decided to split it up is we wanted to put out a better product. It (the beginners session) will be more structured on fundamentals.”

Grapplers from Central Valley, Modesto High, Manteca, West and Atwater are planning to attend the 2023 Champ Camp.

“They’ll be sending some kids our way,” Hulstine said. 

Curtis is looking forward to spending time with his brother Billy at and away from the camp. 

Billy, his wife, and their four children reside in Iowa.

“I haven’t seen him since last summer,” Hulstine said. “His whole family should be coming out this year. I get to see my nieces and nephews.”

Murphy started wrestling at the age of six when his mother Kathy Lederle signed him up with the Turlock Club.

He dedicated 16 years of his life to the sport.

“It was life-changing,” Murphy said. “It kept me out of trouble. But I don’t think I was that much of a troublemaker.”

Murphy won back-to-back 130-pound titles (2006, 2005) while representing Hughson High at the CIF State Meet. 

He had a combined record of 168-3 at the prep level according to intermatwrestle.com. He finished 55-0 as a junior and 48-0 senior year. 

“What kept me coming back is the love for the sport,” Murphy said. “It’s also a little easier to like when you’re winning.”

Hulstine was a standout wrestler at Ceres High from 2006-10.

He had a career record of 113-31.

He qualified for the CIF State Championships, collected 45 wins and just six losses, finished third at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament, placed first at the Division-IV Tournament and claimed the 125-pound title at the Valley Oak League Finals during his senior year.

Hulstine started coaching girls wrestling at his alma mater in 2019-20.

“I plan on coaching wrestling until I can’t,” he said. “It’s in my blood. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”