Wrestling Mania: A look into how the boys and girls wrestling teams’ seasons are going and the perseverance it takes to be a wrestler

With 11 tournaments complete and four left, varsity team captain and junior Grey Robinson hopes to help his team improve their personal records as well as achieve their academic goals as they train daily for the upcoming district, regional and state tournaments. 

As the team spends time together cheering for each other during tournaments, playing games together and practicing, the underclassmen learn more about the team culture.

“There’s something we say in the wrestling room,” Robinson said. “Once you wrestle, it makes everything else in life seem a little bit easier to manage.”

Robinson strives to teach the underclassmen this lesson like his own upperclassmen had taught him. According to Robinson, the same dedication needed on the mat should be applied to everyday life. This lesson helped him place second at the Grandview Invitational tournament on Jan. 26 this year in the 138 pound weight class.

“The work ethic needed for wrestling definitely carries over into my everyday life and school,” Robinson said.

With only three seniors in the program this year, head coach Chip Ufford attributes much of the team’s compatibility to both the seniors and juniors encouraging and leading younger athletes. 

“[Our upperclassmen] do a great job of leading,” Ufford said. “It takes time, it takes effort and it takes energy to develop a community of people who want to compete and push each other.”

According to Ufford, he and his coaching staff are primarily interested in the holistic growth of their athletes. He pushes their growth by emphasizing work ethic through conditioning and pep talks. 

“Wrestling is a tough sport,” Ufford said. “[Wrestlers] learn how to get through hard times, and not just quit and give up, because things can get difficult in life.”

According to Ufford, many of his former athletes return and share how wrestling in high school shaped their work ethic in their personal lives. 

Despite having a young team, with six out of 11 varsity wrestlers being underclassmen, Ufford hopes his wrestlers qualify for the state tournament on Feb. 22 by placing in the district and regional tournaments.

“[Wrestling] is like a rollercoaster,” Ufford said. “There’s the ups and downs. We’re at a low point right now, but we’re going to start turning the corner and come back.”

With six girls in the wrestling program — compared to the two last year — varsity captain and junior Sylvia MohrSting felt successful in pioneering the program as she’s watched the team compete in eight tournaments so far this season, typically with placers in each.

“It’s awesome to see the growth in our program,” MohrSting said. “With more teammates, it’s honestly more fun.”

First year wrestler and sophomore Maria Scott credits her joining the program to MohrSting’s practice partner, co-captain and  junior Abi Contreras.

“I had weights with Abi,” Scott said. “She told me how fun wrestling is, and really seemed passionate about it, so I wanted to try it.”

Contreras placed sixth at the Paola Invitational tournament on Jan. 19 this year in the 115 pound weight class. MohrSting also placed fifth in the 120 pound weight class.

“My family keeps me going by encouraging me and pushing me,” Contreras said. “And honestly, I’m too stubborn to give up. 

Contreras’s family attends every meet she competes in. Similarly, girls’ wrestling coach Tanner Laird attributes much of the growth of the program to the work ethic and motivation MohrSting and Contreras regularly display. 

The team hopes to finish the season strong and grow even larger next year by supporting female wrestlers at Indian Hills Middle School by having East wrestlers assist in coaching at the middle school level.

“The girls are good people, athletes and students,” Laird said. “They deserve a lot of credit for the growth of our program.”

The next big events for the girls’ program are the District Meet on Feb. 6, the Regional Meet on Feb. 10, and the State tournament on Feb. 22.

“I placed eighth last year,” MohrSting said. “But this year I want to aim higher. Hopefully top five.”