Unlike how most sports are just considered an athletic event, wrestling is its own lifestyle, and the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Wrestling Team is looking forward to having a successful lifestyle this winter.

Last year was a down year for the BSM Wrestling Team. They were 4-18, but this was mostly in part due to a small team. “Last year we were giving up 24 points per match due to missing weight classes,” two time captain and senior, Hank Wolfe, said. Giving up this many points makes it very difficult to win matches, but this is not a problem for the team this year.  

For the first time in three years, all the weight classes will be filled, which means that BSM won’t have to forfeit any weight classes. The team believes this will translate to more wins this season. There are other new changes to the team to improve success this year. “We are going to ramp up the intensity during practices and we have a new coach, Mr. John DeLozier,” Wolfe said.

Along with the practice changes, the team is participating in some difficult regular season tournaments to prepare them for a post-season run. The wrestling squad hopes to have a winning record this year, and have some participants back in the State Tournament. “The tough competition from the tournaments will prepare us well for the post-season,” Wolfe said.  

In order to achieve these goals, the BSM Wrestling Team will be counting on several seniors to step into their role. Hank Wolfe, Ikenna Ujuagu, Hank Hanson, Alex Fischer, and more will need to step into their leadership roles as experienced wrestlers. “George Wolfe and the Hall brothers need to step up as well,” Wolfe said.  

For the most competitive of wrestlers, the sport turns into much more than just a sport. Cutting weight can become a big part of wrestling in order to make certain weight classes. Wrestlers attempt to use weight to their advantage by being in weight classes that complement their style of wrestling. They do this by monitoring their diets, which includes both food and drink intake. Before weigh-in, they want to have no water weight, so the wrestlers often purge themselves in order to lose as much weight as possible. “I want to cut 28 pounds from the end of football season,” Hank Wolfe, who is about half way there, said. In losing weight, he will be able to compete against lighter opponents and manipulate them easier in a way to gain points.

To learn more about this exciting sport, check out this video about wrestling techniques and moves that are commonly used.