Head coach of the boys wrestling team, Mr. Onstad, has been coaching the team for several years. He has been a part of all of the greatest moments, and he has also been there through tough times as well. And now there is a problem that the current wrestling team has encountered, declining numbers. 

“I just want to get more people into wrestling,” Onstad said.

This statement is one that has lingered with the team this year, as this has caused them to lose some of their meets by forfeit. 

“Obviously you want to be winning everything, but we’re not. There’s a lot of talent around this school that doesn’t want to wrestle,” Onstad said.

The players on the team reflected this message, including varsity wrestler and team captain Michael Flatley, who has been there to see a lot of these unfortunate events unfold.

“The sky’s the limit [for this team],” Flatley said.

Though the team does not have as many athletes as usual, there is still quality within their numbers. Where they lack in numbers, they have been able to make up for in technique, strength, and conditioning. 

According to Onstad, the team does a lot of sparring and situational work. Onstad says that this allows them to rep practice experience with match speed and intensity. These full match practice reps are very physically demanding. Each period runs three minutes in a real match and you have to be prepared to go the distance. 

Another thing unmatched for these wrestlers is their tenacity to compete and win in every match. 

“[They] want to be prepared to go into quadruple overtime and win that match,” Flatley said.

Additionally he added that this isn’t just for state matchups or regionals, this is the goal every time you step on the mat.

“I treat every match like it’s the state finals, wrestle it, win it,” Flatley said.

Through all of the struggles that this team has faced, it is clear where the values of the team lay, but if the team does not grow, these problems may continue in the near future. With regionals coming up, the team is working harder than ever. The conditioning is paying off as the boys are preparing for state. They have their eyes set on gold, hoping to get several athletes to state. 

“I don’t think there is a single wrestler on this team that can’t place at regionals,” varsity wrestler Jayden Rudnicki said.

This statement of confidence along with Onstad’s consistent belief in the team’s capability for placing at state will be one to pay attention to in the coming weeks. Good luck to the Boys wrestling team.