WRESTLING & GYMNASTICS

INKLINGS Wrestling season begins with success

BY NOAH THOMAS Freshman Paul Clark also knows they “My goal is to win a state title,” Esco-editor-in-chief left more points out there, but remains con- trada said. fident in the team. The COVID-19 pandemic has affect-

The wrestling team just came off a “We’re trying to win a blue ring at the ed many winter sports in the Region, with 71 to four victory yesterday against Lake end of the year and try to get better during many teams canceling practice because of Central High School. Before that, Crown the season,” Clark said. “A close match exposure. Just like other teams, wrestling Point fell to the defending state champi- against Cathedral, we probably should’ve has been affected by the pandemic as well on, Cathedral, based on criteria. They tied won but we’ll get them eventually. We got- in efforts to keep the coaches and athletes 28-28 thanks to the Crown Point wrestlers ta beat Cathedral, we had a few matches we safe. who won got extra points in their respected should’ve got some extra points in and a “We’ve had to split our team up. Our matches. few matches we shouldn’t have given up freshmen team is practicing, and some of

Criteria is used to determine who wins points in.” our JV team is practicing in the field house in a tie, and Crown Point lost because they Lorek said one of the team’s most or in the cafeteria, that’s a first. We have won six matches and Cathedral won eight. impressive wins so far this season was a divided our mats up into sections so who Veteran head coach Brandon Lorek was win against Chesterton, the second-ranked will only work with two or three kids and happy with their effort but knows more team in the state. normally they stay in their section and points should have been earned. “We’ve won some huge match- practice,” Lorek said. “We’re not using the

“Our wrestlers who won in matches es, we’ve had a lot of success. We beat locker room as much because we are trywon more points and that made a big dif- Chesterton who was ranked second in ing to minimize contact in the locker room. ference. For them to have more wins then state last Wednesday. The kids have been The Athletic Department has provided us us and for us to tie them is amazing. It’s a working really hard, getting to the weight with two fans to keep the air moving and credit to our guys who won their matches room, working on technique, so it’s been mats get washed multiple times a day.” and we left some points out there. There good,”Lorek said. Coming up, the Bulldogs look forward were some points we could’ve picked up Lorek cited senior Javen Estrada as to The Carl Carnahan Wrestling Invitationand there were extra points we gave them one of the heroes of the Chesterton meet. al, named after the founder of Crown Point and we came up on the short end of the Estrada’s overall goal for his senior season Wrestling. The Invitational will be tomorstick,” Lorek said. is simple. row starting at 8 a.m. at home. Gymnastics team practices COVID-19 precautions with hopes of successful and healthy season

BY SAMUEL BREWER nior class is just as strong. Only amount of interaction between While she still has her seaco-sports editor having two seniors has been a everyone on the team as a son, Dexter, who was voted little different, considering we whole. We also make sure to a team captain, is making it a

After graduating six se- had six last year, but Megan wash our hands after every priority that everyone on the niors, including top scorers (Pappenheim) and Leah (Dex- event,” Maunes said. team enjoys the season while Paige Hein and Madison Rolle, ter) are both amazing gymnasts These precautions are like- they can. the girls gymnastics team is and leaders. They never fail to ly most important to the seniors “It’s definitely different preparing for another success- make people laugh, but also are on the team, if the season ends, leading the team this year, I try ful season. Even without these good at reminding us when it’s their high school careers go to make it lighthearted and fun seniors, head coach Amy Pysh time to be serious and stay fo- with it. Senior Leah Dexter has for everyone because there’s is confident in her team to com- cused,” Maunes said. already come to terms with the been a lot of change due to pete at a very high level. As the gymnastics team possibility, but chooses to look COVID. I try to make sure ev-

“I’m expecting it to be a prepares, they face the prob- on the bright side instead of be- eryone is doing okay and try great year for us competitively. lem of keeping themselves and ing cynical. to be there as much as I can. We have 17 gymnasts this year their season safe. According to “If my final season gets There’s a little pressure of bewho will all contribute nicely. Maunes, all possible measures cut short, I am still grateful for ing a leader on the team but it’s I’m really thinking we can con- are being taken to keep the what we still had. We got to definitely fun to be a role modtend in the top three in the DAC preparation going. practice together and create a el and be able to help the other with this team,” Pysh said. “At our first practice we team bond. This year I’ve just girls with whatever they need,”

Other gymnasts like soph- were split into groups of about been trying to enjoy every mo- Dexter said. omore Ysabel Maunes are ful- four to five people. We stay ment and have fun. You never Dexter and the team will ly confident in the new senior with those same people ev- know when it can be cut short travel to La Porte tomorrow for class to perform and lead. ery practice and rotate to each so making the most out of it is the LaPorte Pairs Invitational at

“I would say this year’s se- event with them, limiting the what counts,” Leah Dexter. 11 a.m.