Wrestling is becoming an increasingly popular high school sport and for sophomore Kevin Crossman, it’s a way to vent his emotions.
“I like how physical it is,” Crossman said. “It lets me get my anger out.”
The wrestling team has gained 30 new athletes, bringing the numbers of the team up to 60.
“We’ve gotten bigger and stronger,” coach Brad Bresnehen said. “Our technique has vastly improved.”
Senior Peter Negrete is one of the returning wrestlers, starting his fourth year. He was out all last year, so preparing for this year is hard work.
“There are lots of challenges that you have to overcome [with wrestling],” Negrete said. “You build a bond with everyone.”
One of the three girls on the team, junior Nakiah Richardson, says that it’s not hard being a girl wrestler.
“Some people think girls can’t do it,” Richardson said. “They think it’s a guy sport like football and they don’t have the right attitude towards it.”
The athletes started the season three weeks ago. At the Cap Classic at the Delco Center Nov. 18-19, 27 of 43 the junior varsity wrestlers placed at the JV tournament. In the varsity division, four wrestlers placed. Richardson took first in the 102 lb weight class, sophomore Jemmuel Lacanaria and Negrete both took second in their weight classes, 106 and 138, respectively. Sophomore Micah Schonfeld was third in the 113 lb weight class and junior Seth Catchpool was fourth in the 138 lb weight class.
The junior varsity team traveled to Georgetown Friday to compete in their varsity tournament. They finished fifth at Georgetown, beating Harker Heights, Pflugerville and Killeen Shoemaker. They lost a close one to Leander 31-27.
“I felt like we gave 110 percent,” sophomore Alex Gaskill said. “We didn’t all get pinned, and we never surrendered.”
In San Antonio on Saturday at the Churchill Charger Classic, three varsity wrestlers placed. Richardson placed second in the 102 lb weight class while Catchpool and Negrete won their weight divisions the 126 lb and 132 lb classes.
“I felt good about it,” Catchpool said. “I beat a state-ranked kid.”
The team is working hard in preparation, practicing every day after school for two hours and lifting four days a week. The team will attend meets throughout December and January to prepare for district, Feb. 3-4. Bresnehen has high hopes for his team, which had one wrestler advance to state last season.
“I’d like to get four to six kids to state,” Bresnehen said. “And several on the podium at state.”
