22 SPORTS
Sophomore Anthony Bahl competes at a regular season meet. PHOTO BY CASIE DRAVES
Wrestling team sends eight wrestlers to state after placing second overall at semi-state and sectional, regional victories BY KEELEY BERNARD co-sports editor The boys wrestling team has made history this season as they won their 19th sectional in a row. They also won their third regional title in a row. At their most recent meet on Feb. 13, the team were able to finish second at semistate. The team will be sending eight wrestlers to the state meet on Feb. 19. While they set their sights on the state meet, coach Branden Lorek reflected on the history that the team has already made this season. “19 straight Sectionals is a pretty big deal, and I’m proud to have been head coach of the team for five of those titles and an assistant coach for the other 11,” Lorek said. “Yes, being a part of 16 of the 19 straight Sectional titles is pretty special for me, because I have a lot of great memories. I’m proud of my wrestlers, managers, and
coaching staff for helping keep that streak alive.” Junior Nicholas Tattini also reflected on the sectional win. “It feels great to contribute to our 19th straight sectional title,” Tattini said. “Everyone on the team contributed to the win and I think that’s one of the things that make it special.” Sophomore Anthony Bahl is proud of the sectional win, but has already shifted his focus to the state meet. “It feels cool to be a part of such an accomplishment and to continue this legacy, but what all of the team is chasing and grinding for is blue state title rings,” Bahl said. “I’m confident that we have worked harder than any other team in the state and that’s why we accomplish our goal.” The hard work is necessary in order to beat last year’s second place finish at state and achieve a state win. The team will have to play to their strengths and their best
qualities. Lorek believes that the team’s best quality is their teamwork. “I believe the strongest quality of our wrestling team is their relationship with each other and their willingness to compete,” Lorek said. Sophomore Korbin Bolde agrees that teamwork is the team’s best quality. “The strongest quality of the team is that we all have each other’s back and we help one another improve,” Bolde said. Senior Alexie Westfall believes that the team’s best quality is their persistence. “I think the strongest quality of the team is persistence and perseverance,” Westfall said. “Wrestling is so unbelievably mentally and physically demanding and an exhausting sport. So it’s very important to have a team that will stick it through the long practices and the early morning runs before school. You have to commit all
of your energy to personal improvement and pushing your partner to their max to help them reach it.” Improvement is a result of hard work, and Westfall has seen improvement. “I’d say my confidence in my abilities have significantly improved,” Westfall said. “I’ve pushed myself to be more of a dominant and offensive wrestler in matches than previous years.” Westfall believes that the rest of the team has also put in the work necessary to compete at a high level at the meet. “As a team we’ve been putting in the effort since the summer time with lifting and training. We’re coming back this year for first at state,” Westfall said. “I’m really optimistic that the team will pull through and kick butt.” The team will compete at the state meet tonight at Bankers-Life FieldHouse in Indianapolis.
