One of Benilde-St. Margaret’s nine winter sports teams, the wrestling team, ended the 2024-2025 season placing fifth in the Metro West Conference, and then lost in 5AA Section Quarterfinals. With team sections February 14th and individual sections the 21st, the team is hoping to send a few to the Grand Casino Arena this year, although BSM has only had two individual state champions before.
Wrestling features 16 wrestler brackets, 13 weight classes, 45 matches per season, and certain rules and restrictions for safety, such as stating no wrestler can compete in more than 6 matches/duels in one day. These weight classes are relatively strict, allowing for a few pound cut-off, but many fear the possibility of being moved to the higher weight class when not prepared. Generally speaking, the midweight range is considered the most difficult to compete, ranging from 133-152 pounds. Captain Will Krusemark competes in the 11th weight class (189 pounds), and before a meet, he ran around the bus and didn’t drink water or eat to lose five pounds before his meet, exemplifying the cutthroat nature of wrestling. “We’ll have two other teams show up for a tri, or, if it’s just a duel, one other team will come. And then we wrestle, starting with like 107 and then we go up one weight class each time, all the way up to our heavyweights,” Krusemark said.
Focused on strategic decision making, techniques, and training, to win a match individuals must build up points throughout the match. Specifically, wrestlers are instructed to capitalize on winning the first take down, escaping from the bottom position, reversing their position (moving from bottom to top), holding their opponent’s shoulders at a 45 degree angle for 2-5 seconds, and pinning their opponent’s shoulders for 2 seconds on the mat. “I chose to join wrestling because it’s a sport [I can] go out there and be myself and wrestle my own style. Unlike other sports or soccer, you play more of a traditional play style, but wrestling, everyone has their own unique style. [It’s] really fun to throw one of my peers across the room. It’s just a fun thing to do,” senior JJ Lichtenberg said.
Although considered an individual sport, the team aspect of wrestling is still key to players’ successes and enjoyment. Having tournaments, team bonding, and relying on each other for challenging practices convinces players that they are playing a team sport. Additionally, players say they need the support from their teammates to help each other stay focused and hold accountability. Nonetheless, when it comes down to one’s individual performance, it is ultimately dependent on the individual. “There’s no other way to put it, you can’t blame anyone else for your actions, and it really puts the pressure on you,” Krusemark said.