by Jack DeGonia ‘19

With many returning high-caliber wrestlers, the varsity wrestling team should be very competitive this season.  Six current wrestlers qualified for the state meet last year with the highest placing returning wrestler, senior Chris Sanchez, achieving 2nd place in his weight class.  To accompany the top wrestlers, there are many hardworking underclassmen who have “worked hard over the offseason to get a lot stronger,” said senior Yusuf Higazi.

The team’s season opener this past Wednesday against Whitman cements their hopes for a successful run at the state level. Whitman ended up forfeiting two of the matches due to various reasons, and the Warriors forfeited one due to their lack of a wrestler in the 220 lb weight class.  Apart from the forced forfeit, the Warriors only lost one other match to one of Whitman’s captains in the 160 lb weight class. Near the end of the meet, juniors Brady and Brandon Holda both easily pinned their opponents with Brandon ending his match in only 18 seconds. Initially thought to be one of their harder matchups this year, the Warriors triumphed over the Vikings by a final score of 58 – 10.  

The Warriors will continue to face harder teams, like Damascus, the reigning state champions, this coming Tuesday, as they “have a harder schedule this year but… a better team,” said Higazi.  They are hoping to break Damascus’ undefeated record that began back in 2012. The Hornets haven’t lost a single meet against any team since that season.