THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Giulio a tough wrestler, but a soon-to-be Saint on the field

Gunner Giulio has wrestled countless opponents, with plenty of wins during his time at Coeur d’Alene High.

But it’s the one decision he wrestled with that has him chasing his dreams in the other sport in which he is a standout.

GIULIO, WHO comes from a decorated wrestling family, chose to play football in college, recently signing with NAIA Carroll College in Helena, Mont.

“It was pretty tough, and I didn’t realize it was going to be as tough of a decision as it was,” Giulio said. “My whole life, I’ve loved football a lot more than wrestling. Toward the decision, I was thinking about what would make me the happiest. I really didn’t know if I wanted to wrestle again after this year. So after talking with my dad and brothers, I figured out that I wanted to play football. And I’m 100% sure of that.”

Gunner, the youngest of three boys, is also a three-time state 5A wrestling champion.

His father, Jim, coached American Falls High to five state 3A titles (2001, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

“He wasn’t happy that I was done wrestling,” Giulio said. “But he was happy that I wanted to go play football in college. He wanted to play football in college as well, but he wasn’t tall enough. I grew up in American Falls. When I was a baby, I’d crawl around the wrestling room at the school. I’m sure that’s why it was such a hard choice to play football over wrestling.”

Gunner’s oldest brother, V.J., was a four-time state wrestling champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) and older brother Boone a three-time champ (2015, 2016, 2018) at American Falls High.

V.J. Giulio also helped North Idaho College to a co-NJCAA title in 2013, then won a national title at 197 pounds at the Spokane Convention Center in 2014.

Gunner Giulio is 128-13 in his wrestling career at Coeur d’Alene, with state championships at 152 pounds as a freshman (44-9 record) in 2019, 160 as a sophomore (38-1) in 2020 and 170 as a junior (32-2) in 2021. He's 14-1 this year, wrestling at 182.

“They loved that I was going to play football,” Giulio said of his brothers. “They also wanted to play football in college, but I think my dad had a little bit of a stronger pull on them to get them to wrestle.”

At Carroll, Giulio will be reunited with Viking teammates Jack Prka and Jake Brown, as well as fellow seniors Jaxson Washington and Wyatt Sandford, who signed with the program earlier this week.

Giulio starred at running back and linebacker at Coeur d'Alene.

“Having both Jack and Jake was some of the reason that I committed there,” Giulio said. “Jack is one of my closest friends. I just really like the atmosphere there. It’s a Catholic school. I like Montana, the mountains and I’m a big outdoors person. I just figured that it fit me the best.”

IT WAS an injury during a state 5A football quarterfinal game against Eagle at Viking Field in November that almost altered Giulio’s wrestling season.

During a play in the fourth quarter, Giulio injured his left ankle and did not return as the Vikings lost to the Mustangs 23-14.

“I broke my ankle and ruptured my high ankle ligament,” Giulio said. “I didn’t have to have any surgery, but I had to wear a (walking) boot for about six to eight weeks. I pretty much had to stay off of it. The doctor pretty much told me that I was in that boot and to stay off it as much as I could. They almost had to cast it.”

His wrestling coach, Jeff Moffat, knew that he’d see Giulio on the wrestling mat again.

“I was concerned, since you didn’t know how bad it was,” Moffat said. “But Gunner is the kind of kid that he’s going to compete no matter what. Even with some injuries. It did turn out to be a little more serious, so we had to be a little more mindful of that.”

To return, Giulio visited North Idaho Physical Therapy and Justin Kane, who has worked with plenty of injured athletes.

“That guy is awesome,” Giulio said. “He just works magic. I went to his clinic in Post Falls and he put me through some chamber therapy that compresses air. We’d take the boot off and I’d do some movements with my ankle and foot, as well as a lot of bike workouts.”

“Justin does an outstanding job with Coeur d’Alene High athletes, and all athletes getting them back,” Moffat said. “He’ll do whatever he can to help get them back out there. Give a lot of credit to him too. He does a great job.”

Though Giulio wasn’t available to defend his 2019 Tri-State Invitational championship, he did return in time for the Rollie Lane Invitational in Nampa, finishing second.

“I always knew I was going to wrestle this season,” Giulio said. “Whether it (his ankle) was broken or not, I was going to be out there at some point.”

Giulio spent the first part of the season just watching, something that might have been rougher than any match.

“It was pretty mentally abusive,” Giulio said. “Having to watch everyone go through the struggle, you kind of wish you were going through it with them. Honestly, that’s where you make the most friends is wrestling throughout the season and grinding with each other. I hated having to sit on the sidelines. You come in (to the wrestling room) and you’re sitting in a boot and everyone is giving you grief about it.”

GIULIO IS trying to become the first four-time state wrestling champion at Coeur d’Alene High.

“It’s crazy to think about,” Giulio said. “It’s something that I’ve been working for my entire life. My dad has been engraving into my brothers and my head that we’re the best, and we’re going to get this done together. I love the thought of it, and the position that I’m in right now. But I’ve just got to keep working over the next four weeks.”

That work also includes staying aware of what’s going on with his ankle.

“I’m not normally the nervous type,” Giulio said. “But this year, I’ve thought about it a few times. But I’m confident in my wrestling and myself.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.