As a new year has begun, the boys and girls wrestling team hasn’t stopped towards their goals for this season. Currently, both teams have competed in several duals, tris, and tournaments.
“The season has gotten off to a good start, the boys have brought home team trophies from three out of four tournaments while the girls won their first team award during the Warsaw Tourney,” head coach Justin Wisdom said. As the teams have earned trophies, progress and growth has been shown.
Although, some athletes have reflected on their personal goals for the remainder of the season.
“I want to get better at mentally just knowing I can win, and physically broadening my repertoire of moves,” senior Drake Murrell said.
“I really hope my confidence will grow in taking my shots, I recognize that they’re all there, I just need to trust myself,” senior Alysia Yoder said.
Being on a team also comes with building seasons and setting goals.
“Each wrestler and coach fills out their own goal sheets at the beginning of the year. We just revisited our goals this past week. Some of the common goals are being Conference Champions, Qualifying for the State Tourney and winning State medals. As for an overall team goal we are striving for consistency this season,” Wisdom said.
Striving for consistency was a big key, as several players talked about this word defined.
“Some of my goals for the rest of the season are winning districts for the third time, winning state for the second year in a row, lastly having an undefeated season, while all being consistent,” Junior Jayce Estes said.
As the years have gone by, every season has started to look a little different each year. Coach Wisdom expressed how this year, there has been more developed experience overall on the roster that they have. This year’s wrestling team also fits 12 out of the 14 weight classes into their roster, which hasn’t been obtainable in previous years.
Additionally, some wrestlers reflected back on previous seasons, to help look towards their personal growth.
“My work ethic has improved tremendously compared to last year, realizing that I only have two more years to finish out my WHS wrestling career,” Estes said.
As February rolled around, the end of wrestling season was right around the corner.
“For the remainder of the season, I want us as a team to grow into working harder and being confident, instead of rolling over for people who we already know are good,” senior Alysia Yoder said.
The seniors took it as a time to reflect and spread their advice for the future of the program as well.
“As a team goal, we want to focus on spreading the new culture of wrestling and finish with a team plaque at the state tournament,” Murrell said.
Overall, the wrestling team has set goals, time, practices, and dedication to finishing out their last couple weeks of this year’s season.
“The goal is to be wrestling our best in February when the postseason starts, however finding consistency in our performances and results week to week has been our goal,” Wisdom said.
Post season will begin for wrestlers on February 21, competing in the district tournament.
