Wrestling team works hard for new season

Varsity+wrestling+captains+Elliot+and+Israel+warm+up+before+practice%2C+in+the+field+house%2C+Dec.+11+.

photo by Felix Pina

Varsity wrestling captains Elliot and Israel warm up before practice, in the field house, Dec. 11 .

Eddie Zepeda, Reporter

The varsity wrestling team is training hard to take the win against all opponents and feel the pleasure of victory and respect. To get there the team is working hard.

“(We train with) positive reinforcement, praise for a great job (for) the hard work they have put in,” wrestling varsity assistant coach Luis Valadez said.

Motivation is a big part of a team specially from teammates.  

“We just tell ourselves that we want to be the first team to bring our coach a state title, that we work harder than our opponents,” wrestler Victor Contreras said.

Wrestling demands hard work and intensity.

“(There is a lot of) intensity and sportsmanship,” coach Valadez said.

The wrestling team is working hard to improve and attended summer camps.

“We have more experience because we had good summer camps I think they have more experience from last year,” wrestling team head Coach Armendariz said.

Every sport has one main goal, to win every match they can.

“Our goal is to win district as in with the boys team and possibly regionals too,” coach Valadez said.

There are many ways to accomplish those goals.

“(The wrestling team is putting in a lot of) dedicated hard work. We have a young team with plenty of experience,” coach Valadez said.

The head coach agrees.

“I think we have a great team a (great) team that (also) performed good since they were small,” head coach Armendariz.

Preparation is the main part in any sport.

“(We have to) make sure we are prepared physically and mentally,” coach Valadez said.

The head coach likes to focus on not wasting their time and keeps their players focused

“It’s really kind of practice we use our time wisely and to make them not focused on other problems,” head coach Armendariz said.

Some work harder than others to be the team captain.

“Boys team captains are Elliot Cortez and Israel Lucas and the girls team captains are Jasmine Escobar and Andrea Montoya,” coach Valadez said.

Interest in wrestling can start early.

“I was about five years old because my father would take us to the wrestling tournaments,” coach Valadez said.

There are risks in playing any sport.

“One of the worst injury has been a torn ACL (a torn ligament) a wrestling opponent took a shot and hit our wrestler’s knee,” coach Valadez said.