Both the boys and girls wrestling teams have had a strong season, showing improvement, dedication, and a growing sense of confidence as they continue to compete and train.
Head coach Cody Andersen says that although the teams have faced difficult opponents, the overall progress has been encouraging.
“Overall, the season is going well,” Andersen said. “We’ve had some tough matches, but the wrestlers have been putting in a lot of work, and the results are showing.”
One of the biggest challenges for the teams has been competing against schools with more experienced wrestlers.
“One of our biggest challenges is facing schools that have a more advanced team with kids who have been wrestling since they were young,” Andersen said. “It can be discouraging when a brand new wrestler is faced against an advanced wrestler, so it gets tough for some kids to look at the bigger picture.”
Despite these challenges, Andersen says he is proud of the commitment his athletes show every day.
“I am proud of every single wrestler who shows up every day to train hard, wrestle well, and leave it all on the mat,” Andersen said.
Senior wrestler Malachi Luta says both he and the team have grown a lot this season.
“Personally, my season is going well,” Luta said. “The team looks forward to CIF and Masters. As for the team, we have wrestlers like Nery Lopez, Amir Thomas, and Nate Finley to look up to.”
Luta also said one of his goals is to help others improve.
“This year, my biggest challenge has been my opponents, and I have been trying to make sure my team is improving,” Luta said. “I try to make time to help out teammates who are eager to learn.”
Another wrestler, Wyatt Ballestero, shared a similar perspective on the team’s growth.
“I have been doing pretty well, and our team has improved tremendously,” Ballestero said. “I think we’ve built a strong team.”
Bakker said staying focused has been one of the hardest parts of the season.
“Our biggest challenge has been staying focused,” Ballestero said.
When asked what he is most proud of, Ballestero pointed to the younger wrestlers.
“I am most proud of the young wrestlers on the team that have improved so much and now have more confidence,” Ballestero said.
Looking ahead to next season, Andersen is excited about new training opportunities.
“For next season, I am looking forward to watching the wrestlers grow and improve,” Andersen said. “We’d like to start incorporating some weight training into our practices, and I think that will help us out.”
With continued effort and a strong team mindset, both wrestling teams are hoping to build on this season’s progress and come back even stronger next year.
