With the winter season on the horizon, UHS wrestlers are eager to return to the mats and show what they have been working on since the end of last season. The team has prepared in a variety of different ways: running on the track for conditioning, honing in on techniques in the gym and even sharing laughs outside of practice to grow together as a group. With numerous mediums of training, the wrestling team now hopes that all their hard work will soon produce great results.
Last season, in particular, the wrestling program saw significant growth, holding the first Varsity Girls’ Wrestling Team that could qualify for state-wide competitions. Since then, the focus has been shifted towards solidifying the groundwork that was established last season, building on individual as well as team success. Captain Megan Sognefest spoke on the growth of the wrestling community.
“We’ve really built a sense of community, which is really great . . . We all support each other at tournaments where everyone is excited and rowdy to see each other compete,” Sognefest said.
Fellow captain, Chris Mattar, also commented on wrestling’s unique team dynamic.
“When one person is competing, everyone is on the sidelines cheering them on, which is really nice to see,” Mattar said.
Although this year’s captains have made great strides in developing camaraderie throughout the team, individual accomplishments and accolades are huge driving factors for wrestlers going into this season.
“My main goal is to go to state,” Mattar said.
Two-sport star and captain, Owen Chiou, utilizes his best traits from each sport to become a dominant presence across his athletic pursuits. After setting the school record for single-season sacks and being named an All-League player for the UHS Varsity Football Team in the fall, his focus now shifts to wrestling.
“Sports seasons always feel short, so I’m hoping to make the most out of this upcoming season . . . I plan on going to masters, doing so by working hard and being consistent throughout the season,” Chiou said.
With the winter season now upon us, the UHS Varsity Wrestling Team is on its way to making a statement, displaying their determination and dedication throughout the off-season. Their first slew of matches comes in the second and third weeks of December, where they will compete until the season ends in early February. They have high hopes for their next match-up against Beckman High School, which will occur on Dec. 13 as a home game for the Trojans.
