The wrestling season is now in full swing, after a semi-successful first meet. There have been tribulations and successes, but the team hopes to only improve from here.
“The season so far has been great…all of [the wrestlers] have grown in such a small amount of time,” Rhiana Craig, the girls’ team manager and a junior at Salida High School commented. “I’ve seen all of our wrestlers do amazing, even with losses.”
This season has also seen the addition of a Girls’ Wrestling Team at Salida High School. This addition will be an opportunity for more involvement, both within the school and among the greater community.
For the boys’ teams, the first match of the season was on December 5th. The boys’ team traveled to Buena Vista immediately after for their second match of the season on December 6th. The girls’ first match of the season is currently scheduled for the weekend of December 11th. This first home match provided the team with an opportunity to get back into the competitive spirit that comes with competition.
Despite losing their first match, it “went great, everyone was aggressive and giving it their all,” Craig said. The team was motivated and intense, and they kept it up “even when matches were getting intense and their bodies were tired,” mentioned Craig. The team kept their heads up and continued.
For Craig, the best part of wrestling is watching the team grow after each win and loss. Each match provides new chances to learn and grow as a player. “It’s amazing to see them apply when they’ve learned from their experiences.”
As the team manager for the girls’ team, Craig ensures each team member has their needed gear for their matches, as well as keeping track of scores at matches. She also does recording during matches so the team can see what they can improve on.
Despite all of their improvement, the team still faces challenges. The wrestling team has had trouble maintaining the proper weight for their category, especially when they are focusing on their personal lives. However, Craig “applaud[s] them all for sticking with it even through the hardships.”
Rhiana Craig’s hope for the rest of the season is for the team to come out better than how they went in. It’s clear to see that the team is working to achieve their goals, and only time will tell. “I believe they are each incredibly talented and have so much potential,” Craig said.
Overall, the wrestling season should see focused improvements from each person on the team as the season progresses. The next home match will be a duel, which will occur on Friday, December 12 at 5pm in the SHS gym, where the Boys’ Varsity team will compete against Las Animas and Norwood. They will continue to dedicate their time and energy into becoming better at the sport, and we can’t wait to see what they do next. If you want to keep up with our local sports, make sure to come on down to the high school to support the wrestling team!
