The wrestling program is looking forward to the upcoming season after finishing with a record of 5-7 last year. This year they have their eyes on a state championship and have been working year-round on and off the mat to make this happen.

According to Coach Ralph Bernardo, “The team has been running a mat club over the summer season so that all of the athletes are ready to compete when the season begins in December. Even recruits have been going to the mat club so that they can learn the basics and be ready to go for our first match.”

The team is in agreement that there is no other high school sport that requires such a high level of mental and physical dedication. Not only do wrestling practices often push the wrestlers to the point of pure exhaustion, but no other high school sport requires its participants to be at or under a certain weight to compete. This often results in most of the competitors needing to maintain a strict, low-calorie diet. Empty stomachs, sore muscles, and bruised egos are commonplace in the sport. But these athletes are up to the challenge.

Senior and co-captain Mattias Onel has high expectations for his wrestlers this year in hopes of a successful season and possibly a state title. Onel said, “As captain, I hope everyone keeps their grades up, maintains respect amongst ourselves, and puts forward their 100% best at every practice to theory and improve themselves and challenge those around them.”

Even after last year’s challenging season, Onel wants to make this one last, not only because it is his senior year but he feels as if this is the year where he and other wrestlers can compete and thrive in their prospective individual events. “We’re building back on some rookies that joined last year, with one more year of experience under our belt. As a team, we can collectively build upon the achievements that we accomplished last year, and hopefully exceed expectations this year.”

Second-year sophomore Argil Bilegsaikhan is looking forward to expanding his skill set and technique, along with stepping into a leadership role on the team for the first year. To prepare for the season Bilegsaikhan has “been getting myself mentally straight not just thinking about wrestling but about my diet and what I put into my body translates on the mat. I’ve changed my mindset to be physically and mentally hungry, by working out over the summer and preparing a meal plan making sure that I’m within my weight class throughout the season.”

Coach Bernardo has high expectations for his team as they only graduated a small number of seniors last year. “We plan on having a winning season this year in both teams, and individual competitions. I am looking to bring a division championship to Wootton as well as tournament wins across the state. I feel confident in my wrestlers and hopefully, some will make it to States in March,” he said.