Wrestlers are ready to hit the mats as the season gets into full swing and many of them are setting their sights on state tournament appearances. 

   As wrestling season grew closer, many wrestlers started preparing by working out and attending preseason practices. To push themselves, some conditioned during open mat practices and prepared by improving technique.

   “We are preparing for the season by practicing every Tuesday to ensure that technique and mindset will be fresh for our upcoming season,” girl’s wrestling coach Aspen Longworth said. 

   Many wrestlers have begun setting goals for themselves. 

   Junior Drake Murrell, sophomore Joshua Harvath and Jayce Estes earned their way to a state appearance last season with district medals.

   “I have set a personal goal for myself, which is to make it to state,” Murrell said. 

   “I have a plan to make it farther than I did last year. I made it to state, but I didn’t place. I have a goal to place in state this year,” Harvath said. 

   “I made it to state last year, I made a few errors though and didn’t place,” Estes said. 

   Not only do student wrestlers have a passion for the sport, but the wrestling coaches do as well. Longworth hopes wrestlers experience the same love and enjoyment for the sport as she did. 

  “I loved wrestling in high school and I enjoy seeing other students learning and being active in wrestling. I am continuously motivated in trying to grow the girls wrestling team to bring more opportunities,” Longworth said. 

   Wrestling coaches are looking forward to watching their team improve, while they have high hopes for each individual wrestler and the team as a whole. The wrestling team this year is experiencing double the amount of wrestlers they had last year with about forty middle schoolers and twenty to twenty five high schoolers. 

    “I am so excited to see how our wrestlers do this year. We had great success last year, and that only shows what is to come this year,” assistant coach Suttel Griffin said.