Feature Photo By: Izzy Honey– Freshman Spencer Ohu reaches for his opponent, senior Josh Nuttall’s head during a practice match. New wrestlers have been working with experienced wrestlers during practice to gain skills and strategies.
By Izzy Honey, Review Staff
The winter sports season begins with practices that take place during chilly nighttime temperatures, but that won’t stop Raider athletes from sweating it out at practice. Rangeview wrestlers have been hard at work preparing for this year’s season.
With many seniors graduating last year, including 2016 state championship competitors Kipp Corby, Myles Price, and Christian Calkins, this year’s wrestling team has room for new additions. Only about half of last year’s varsity team will be returning and half of the team will have to be filled with new faces.
Such an inexperienced team is known as a “green” team. According to head coach Tim Corby, the team will have to learn through competitions and losses in the beginning.
Corby said, “They’re going to have to endure some challenges, they’re going to face competition, and they’re going to be defeated, but wrestling is a sport that can reveal your character.”
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the wrestlers will have to make weight for the challenge matches. At this time, the team will wrestle against one another to determine who will be on the varsity team. Four-year varsity wrestler Deron Solomon has already secured his spot as captain on the varsity team.
“This year we have a great team filled with a bunch of young enthusiastic guys. Our veterans are hardened and ready to make a run at state. I’m excited to compete with my team and to go out with a bang this season,” commented Solomon.
Corby stands behind the claim that wrestling is the hardest sport in high school. Wrestlers have to be dedicated, hard-working, and they must be able to make sacrifices.
“My favorite thing about wrestling is that it’s a sport where there are no substitutions, there are no timeouts. When you lose, you can only place the blame on yourself, but when you win, you share that victory with no one but yourself.”
Despite the new additions to the team, the wrestling program is still in need of interested athletes. With the lowest number of wrestlers compared to previous season, coach Corby encourages anyone interested to talk to him about joining the team. The first matches are on December 3rd, so there is still time to join.
