As fall sports wind down and winter falls, boys’ wrestling is now starting up its season. Open mats and after-school practices have been letting the boys get back in shape, but the real deal is now here.
The team’s first match took place on Nov. 26 at Wheaton Warrenville South. Their second match on Nov. 29 was cancelled due to the snowstorm that took place that weekend. But despite this rocky start, the boys are still determined and excited for the season, hoping their hard work pays off.
“To prepare myself for the season, I took a lot of time to lift, and I watched a lot of film,” said OH senior and varsity wrestler Logan Nieves. “I am happy to say that I am very excited for the upcoming season.”
Wrestling is one of the most demanding sports on the body, requiring intense conditioning and a strict diet.
“Preparing for the season is just like getting myself in shape and like cutting all the sweets and the junk food,” said OH senior and varsity wrestler Ryan Dejesus Alicea. “Disciplining my body and also getting back in shape, hitting the gym, disciplining my mind… those are all important.”
However, wrestling is more than just a physical and mental sport in that lots of technique and form are required.
“I need to make sure that I am performing my best,” said Nieves. “Over the last season, I found myself becoming a lot more ‘crafty’ in my technique. Which goes back to watching film.”
Every year, every team and every member has expectations set, but this year, those expectations are to reach for the clouds.
“I expect that I will get to sectionals at the end of the season; that is my main goal. I would love to get to state as well, so I’m gonna reach for the sky,” said Nieves. “I expect that my team will excel. Nothing about this sport is easy, and I know that my teammates are willing to put anything and everything they have into it. I trust my team, and I know they will do great.”
For most of the varsity wrestlers, this will be their last year wrestling for OH, and that makes this year special and more important than any other year before.
“I’m taking this season a lot more seriously now that I am a senior,” Nieves said. “This should be my best season yet, and I’m hoping to be able to continue the sport to some extent throughout college.”
Being the last year brings a time of reflection and sometimes regret when looking back on the years.
“This being my last year brings up… a lot of things, and like this opportunity, like oh I wish I did this in middle school, or I wish I did this in freshman year, but I had a blast doing it,” said DeJesus.
But it also opens up the future for more paths and a chance to bring that experience of being on a team.
“I get to see one of my little brothers…he’s gonna be a freshman next year, and I’m probably gonna be a coach next year, so I get to coach him,” said DeJesus.
But at the end of the day, there’s no point in competing in a sport if one doesn’t enjoy it.
“The thing I want to replicate from last year is just to have fun… we’re all teammates,” DeJesus said. “We’re on our own different lives and all that stuff, and that I want to replicate [is] having fun and enjoying it.”
I am a Senior at OHS and in my second year as a journalist. I am a podcast co-editor and a co-editor in chief and I am excited for my second year being a journalist for the school. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
