On Thursday, January 23, Varsity wrestling had a duel against Reagan High School and Clemens High School. Steele first went against Reagan then went against Clemens, going 3 rounds per weight class, trying to gain points or get the pin. If one of them didn’t get the pin, they would get as many points as possible, trying to have the higher score from taking shots at their opponent.
Wrestling started off with their weigh-ins, then moved on to getting ready and preparing for the matches. Once they finished with their weigh-ins, they moved on to team stretching. When the matches started, they started with the girls’ varsity, with the lightest weight class, moving to the guys following the same pattern.
The wrestlers spent the days leading up to the match practicing after school with their team, at home, and wherever they could.
“We have to run around two mates, until we’re done with all the drills we’ve done,” Noah Pis-Hernandez said. “Then we start stretching our necks, legs, and back. Then we do stancing motion, sprawling, snap downs and other things. Then we take a little water break, then the coach shows us the drill to do, and we do it for a while, but with different variations of the move. After that, depending on the time the coach says go live, which is just wrestle the person you’re with, or he will tell us to go on the line, and after that practice is over.”
When it comes to the wrestlers getting prepared, they all have their own ways of getting ready for the matches, whether it’s days before the match or the day of, or even right when they are about to go wrestle.
“I wouldn’t say I have a ritual, but the night before a match, I take a hot bath and calm my mind and talk to God,” Avery Harlow said.
Wrestlers start warming up before their match; they stretch, listen to music and try to get their minds ready for the match.
“Before matches I listen to music. ‘In the mood’ by Ice Spice is the song I listen to right before I step on but honestly just worrying about yourself and your bread and butter is all you need,” Nalani Bailey said.
While the wrestler is in their match they have many different thoughts going through their head, trying to get the pin on their opponent.
“While I’m wrestling, I go into what some people call ‘Flo state,’ where I let my body go into autopilot and do whatever it needs to do to win the match,” Asaiya Golphin said.
Some wrestlers feel the adrenaline running through their bodies, some are just trying to get to the win as fast as possible.
“The feeling of the adrenaline pumping through your veins while you’re giving everything in you to win is just so enthralling,” Karis Hardcastle said.
After Steele finished wrestling their last weight class, the final results were: Steele Girls 42, Reagan Girls 18, Steele Boys 18, Reagan Boys 61. Results against Clemens were: Steele Girls 36, Clemens Girls 24,Steele Boys 42, Clemens Boys 39. Their next match is districts Wednesday-Thursday, at the Blossom Center.
