Wrestle, Wrestle, Twist 'Em Like A Pretzel
Aelyn Thompson
News Editor
Winter sport practices started up Monday, Nov. 17. Among those winter sports, the wrestling team started the 2014-15 season, working on one takedown at a time.
Coached by Dan Davenport, J.P. Malcolm, Ryan Holtz and Waverly graduate Cal Werner, this year is driven by comeback kids and the leadership of the upperclassmen.
“The last couple years, we’ve been pretty freshman and sophomore heavy in the wrestlers that have been on varsity,” Coach Davenport said. “I’m excited that the leaders will be the upperclassmen now, opposed to the underclassmen.”
Last year’s varsity wrestlers have had some pretty tough breaks, from being less experienced than other wrestlers in their weight class, to heartbreak matches in the last round of EMC Districts.
“I’m ready to pick up where I left off last season and become the best I can be,” junior Brayden Dowding said. “I’m excited to get back out on the mat and see what this season brings.”
Many new wrestlers will show up on the mat this year, including senior John Faughn.
“He’s an all-around athletic guy and has very good leadership skills. I’m really excited to have him on the team this year,” Davenport said about Faughn.
Returning senior Trevor Spath has wrestled since he was a kid and now assumes the position as a senior team captain.
“I really want to make something out of this year,” Spath said. “I feel like I have a lot of push this year for the team, being a senior.”
This year’s theme for the wrestling team, picked by the returning seniors Kyle Fogarty and Spath, reads “How do you want to be remembered?”. The two said that the team has always had a sign in the wrestling room that reads this year’s theme.
They agreed that they want to make the team something to remember when they chose it.
The matches start on Dec. 4 at Waverly High. Coach Davenport mentioned how. more often than not, that there is a distinct lack of student section and support. Come make the season for the wrestlers something to remember, long after they buckle their headgear for the last time.
