The wrestling shoes shuffle across the colored mats.
Intense eyes focus on the action.
The boys and girls wrestling team competed at District 10-6A Championships Jan. 29-30. It was an opportunity to show months of hard work and also mark the start of a new season, a chance to start fresh.
“Districts is a new season. It’s a new opening. It’s a new opportunity. It’s a chance to show what really matters now,” senior Kelsey Tran said. “It would be a breakout season.”
This season for Tran marks development, and after months of practice on top of other commitments, the day was readily approaching. Tran had a set goal: Making it to State.
“Placing in the top four this weekend will mean I make it,” Tran said. The weekend of Feb. 6-7 is Regionals, the final step until State.
For sophomore Natalie Bradshaw, mindset is a key factor in winning a match in addition to hard work. Between rounds, it is common for wrestlers to adjust their strategy to find a better way to win. Even if the wrestler doesn’t win or is losing in the moment, rethinking strategy helps them put in the effort and show they are committed.
“Just to kind of stay calm and to remember what I’ve done in practice and I’ve done all the work I needed to,” Bradshaw said.
Even though wrestling is an individual sport, the support goes way past the mats. Teammates play a huge part from the sidelines. By the mats at Districts, one would see five to six wrestlers cheering their hardest for their fellow player, yelling out different moves to try and help remind them of the time. According to Tran, she depends on them.
“They were always in my corner. I could always lean back on them. They were really like a backboard, compared to being by myself. I could always ask them for advice,” Tran said.
Head Coach Nicholas Johnson and Assistant Coach Melis Alan are also always cheering for their team. During Districts, they would root for their wrestler, yell out strategies to try and remind the wrestler of the time remaining. Bradshaw believes the coaches play a bigger role in her life than just being a coach.
“My coach has meant a lot to me that they’re like the second parents I don’t have and they’re very good at supporting us and especially a girl in wrestling, like they’re very good at managing such a high emotional day for us,” Bradshaw said.
Tran ended up district champion in her weight class. Now she will go on to Regionals, and continue getting closer to state as long as she follows the advice that she abides by.
“Keep going and never cheat yourself out of those work days, ever,” Tran said.
