Photo Credit: TJ Guidice

By Aiden Mendoza

Staff Writer

Wrestling isn’t about flashy plays or being the most popular. It’s about discipline, grit, and pushing yourself when you feel like you can’t go any further. It’s intense, physically and mentally draining, and for a lot of wrestlers, it’s life-changing. I talked to four varsity wrestlers Kyion, Ezra, Jacob, and Omar who all have different stories, but they share one thing: wrestling has shaped who they are.

First, there’s Kyion, an 11th grader in his first year of wrestling. For him, it wasn’t a lifelong dream; he was influenced by other athletes in his position and his coaches, who pushed him to give it a shot. “They really wanted me to try, so I did,” Kyion said. It didn’t take long for him to realize how tough the sport really was.

When I asked how new wrestlers are changing the sport, Kyion said it’s all about the way they work. “It’s how we train and prepare,” he explained. What makes a wrestler stand out, in his opinion, isn’t about skill, it’s about not quitting. “You just gotta keep fighting,” he said.

Since he wrestles at heavyweight, cutting weight isn’t a huge issue for him, but his mindset before a match is simple: stay loose and focused. His favorite memory so far? His first win against Oak High School. “Afterward, I just chilled with my teammates,” Kyion said. Losses hit differently, though. “I think about what I could’ve done better, then get back to it the next day.”

Next is Ezra who’s newer to the sport but already knows how good it feels to win. His favorite part? “When you pin someone and get your hand raised in front of everyone,” he said. Funny thing is, Ezra didn’t even want to wrestle at first. “I was kind of forced into it,” he admitted. He was always roughhousing with his brothers, so his family got him into wrestling to burn off energy and it stuck.

Ezra thinks new wrestlers are making the sport more competitive, especially with how fast wrestling is growing. He’s noticed that newer wrestlers tend to be quicker and more technical than some of the older ones. Before a match, Ezra listens to music to zone out. “Once you’re on the mat, it’s just you and your opponent,” he said. His best moment? Winning his first home match by pinning his opponent in just 15 seconds. “The lights were off, and everyone watching was electric.”

Jacob has a different story. Wrestling wasn’t something he planned on doing for fun; it started as a way to lose weight. “I was fat,” he said bluntly. His stepdad convinced him to try conditioning, and eventually, the sport itself. “They told me I’d feel better about myself, and they were right.” It wasn’t easy, though. Jacob called wrestling “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

But it paid off. “I used to be this chubby guy, and now I’m stronger and in better shape for everything else I do,” he said. Jacob thinks new wrestlers are making the sport bigger by encouraging more people to join. When working with beginners, Jacob pushes them hard. “It might seem harsh, but if they quit, it shows they’re not ready for this sport yet.”

What makes a wrestler stand out? “Work ethic,” Jacob said. It’s not about skill; it’s about how hard you push yourself. His proudest moment came when he got revenge on a guy who beat him earlier in the season. “At counties, I pinned him. T.J, the coach, was there pushing me through it all,” Jacob said. That win meant everything.

Lastly, there’s Omar who’s been wrestling for two years. His friends and coaches were the ones who got him into it. Now, he says new wrestlers help improve team scores and keep the team motivated. For him, discipline and motivation are the qualities that make someone stand out. “The ones who show up for optional practices, that’s how you know they’re serious,” Omar said.

When it comes to cutting weight, Omar sticks to protein and cuts out carbs like rice. Before a match, he talks to his coach and thinks about his moves. “I plan ahead whether it’s going for a single leg or sprawling off an attack,” he explained.

Omar’s favorite memory? Pinning an opponent in the first round during his last match. His post-match routine is simple, to win or lose, he eats. “After a win, I eat. After a loss, I still eat,” he joked. During matches, his strategy involves getting in his opponent’s head. “If you talk during the match, it can make the other guy nervous,” he said.

These four wrestlers have different reasons for stepping on the mat, but they all share the same mindset: don’t quit. Wrestling is tough, physically exhausting and mentally draining but it builds something in these athletes that sticks with them. Winning isn’t everything. Sometimes, it’s about getting back up after a loss and pushing through, even when no one’s watching. For Kyion, Ezra, Jacob, and Omar, it’s not just about being better wrestlers, it’s about becoming stronger and tougher people.