HEAD COACH, ADAM BITTLER
adam.bittler@dcsdk12.org

Coach Bittler is starting his 13th year as Head Coach and 18th overall with the MV wrestling team. Coach works mainly with Varsity athletes but also helps coach the JV, 9/10 and Girls teams throughout the year. As the head coach, he oversees the entire program, performing several administrative and logistical duties along with developing a practice and competition schedule that best meets the needs of each athlete. Coach Bittler works closely with the entire staff to provide the most complete and quality experience. Coach Bittler has mentored several state placers and champions throughout his career. He has been apart of a both State Champion and State Runner-up teams in his coaching career. Under his leadership, the MVHS program and its wrestlers have accomplished great things. Including multiple top-20 team finishes at the CHSAA 5A State Tournament and coaching the school's first ever State Champion, Trent Schultz, in 2016 and 2017. Most recently, the boys program finished the 2022 season in 2nd place in the Continental League. In 2023, they followed that up with dominant finish as League Champions, first-ever in school history. Also in 2023, Vista qualified 8 wrestlers to the state tournament shattering the previous record of 5. Also under his direction, Vista wrestling also began a Girls Wrestling program. The girls team was very successful in its first few seasons including producing its first ever Girls State Champion, Mikayla Johnson, in 2019.  Prior to coaching at Mountain Vista, Coach Bittler served as assistant varsity coach at 3A Monte Vista HS in Southern Colorado from 2003-2006. During his time there, the Pirates finished 4th, 2nd and 1st in the State Tournament, producing 6 state champions. Coach has a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Studies and a minor in Coaching. Growing up, he wrestled for several years in Colorado and was an All-League wrestler in HS. He also competed as a high-level Rugby player throughout his time at Adams State University where he served as player-coach leading the Grizzlies to 3 RMAC Runner-up finishes and was named to the Conference All-Star Team in 2005. Coach Bittler currently teaches Social Studies at Mountain Ridge Middle School. He is married with two young daughters.


CODI ROTHERMEL, JV HEAD COACH

Coach Codi will serve as JV Head Coach in his 2nd year with the program. As Head of our JV program, Codi's main responsibilities will be to lead both our Junior Varsity and Fresh/Soph teams. He will be tasked with facilitating practices, implementing match strategies and developing our younger athletes. Coach has a great ability to connect with young athletes. He wrestled at Newberry College in South Carolina where he competed at 149 & 157lbs during his 5 years on the team. He was a key team members for Newberry when they won 2 of their 5 Super Region Championships. In HS, he competed as a high-level athlete in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Codi graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.






BRENT LANGER, JV ASSISTANT COACH 
Coach Brent will serve as a JV assistant coach for this season. He is a recent graduate of Mountain Vista in 2022. During his time with the program, Brent was a four time varsity lettermen, as well as a captain his senior season. He is a member of the 20-pin club and he currently sits 3rd all-time in "season wins" with 41. As a senior, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to a Battle of the Ranch title and league runner-up finish while finishing his career as a state qualifier, losing in the blood round. Currently, Brent is attending Colorado Mesa and will be receiving his degree in land surveying in order to attain PLS licenses in the state of Colorado. In addition to surveying, he will be attending CU Denver online with the goal of receiving another degree in business administration.








CODY BRUNDAGE, ASSISTANT COACH

 Coach Cody is in his 2nd year with the Golden Eagles squad. He will serve as a varsity assistant coach. He is currently professional mixed martial artist and is signed with the UFC. From 2012 to 2017, Brundage attended Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina. He was a triple major in history, English and secondary education and was a very successful member of the wrestling team. He is originally from Chapin, South Carolina where he finished as a state runner-up his senior season.  He is married with two young daughters. 

STEVE AIELLO, ASSISTANT COACH

Coach Steve will serve as an assistant coach for all levels. He is in his first year with the Mountain Vista wrestling program. Coach Steve bring a wealth of knowledge and high level coaching experience. Coach was born in Centrevill Viginia where he was 4x All-State wrestler in high school. He went on to wrestle for Wheaton College in Illinois. During his time there, he was a 2014 DIII All-Americans and a 3x NCAA qualifier. Following his time competing, he joined the Wheaton coaching staff from 2017-2023. He currently teaches English at MVHS and recently was married.

ALEX FRIEDMAN, Volunteer ASSISTANT COACH

Coach Alex has served as the varsity assistant coach for the last few seasons. Coach also served as the program's Head Freestyle and Greco coach in the spring and summer seasons. Alex completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in Exercise Science while minoring in Nutrition, and Business Administration. While at UW-La Crosse Alex was a 4-year wrestler, captain his senior year, and three-time Academic All-American. Alex then went on to pursue sports performance and a Masters of the Arts in Sport Coaching through the University of Denver. Alex accumulated a variety of Sports Performance internships and landed a dream experience at the UFC Performance Institute, where he learned from the best in the MMA field. Alex now works a firefighter for West Metro FD. Alex enjoys training Jiu-Jitsu, where he is a blue belt, as well as spending time with his wife, Mary, and his dogs (Jaeger and Granger) at home.

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JAMES CURTIS, ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH -- GIRLS 

Coach Curtis is in his 13th season with the team. Since 2021, he has served as the Associate Head Girls Coach. He has also been an assistant Varsity coach and was the team’s Head JV coach for several seasons. Coach Curtis is tasked with of developing and running the day-to-day needs of the girls wrestling program. He has a variety of experiences and impressive wrestling knowledge that greatly benefits the entire program.  Coach holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, with a minor in Coaching from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas. He has coached successfully for several years in both Nevada and Colorado. He was a two-time Nevada State Wrestling Champion. Coach Curtis is currently teaching Physical Education and Adventure at Mountain Vista HS. Coach has two daughters who attended Mountain Vista.

 

ADDITIONAL STAFF
Steve "The Voice" Lopez

Steve serves as the team's home match announcer. He has worked with the team for the last 9 seasons. He has a great knowledge of the team and the program's philosophy. Steve has the huge responsibility of firing up the crowd and wrestlers so everybody can have an exciting, positive experience during the match. 






Lori Swendeman

Lori serves as the team's official scorekeeper. She will be completing her 22nd season supporting the Mountain Vista Wrestling team. Her outstanding commitment to the program over the years is remarkable. Lori's friendly attitude and big smile are a comforting sight for wrestlers, alum and spectators alike. 






Tyson Reiner - Golden Eagle Youth Wrestling Club Coach

Tyson Reiner is the Golden Eagle Wrestling Club's head wrestling coach. Tyson has an impressive wrestling resume. He was the Colorado School of Mines assistant coach from June 2015-March 2020. Coach Tyson has 10 years of college coaching experience at Division II and III levels. He was an assistant at two of the top programs at the Division III level; Wartburg College and St. Cloud State University. His coaching statistics include a 139-21 Dual Meet Record, 37 College All-Americans, 8 National Champions, and 70 Academic All-Americans. In addition, Coach Tyson was a coach for 2 NCAA National Team Championships, 5 NWCA National Dual Team Championships 3 NCAA National Runner-Up Team Finishes, and 7 Conference Team Titles. Coach has been a GREAT addition to the Vista Wrestling Community!