JT Koch / Page 6 editor
The NPHS boys wrestling team kicked off its season with high energy and expectations. They started their season off by beating Warren Central 42-30 at home. Having lost to Warren Central for the last two years, the win over Thanksgiving break was very welcome for the team.
Finally entering the competition part of the season the boys get to see some of their training pay off. The team also learned where they needed to refine their skills. With more meets coming up the guys have to take advantage of what they can.
“Once we start competing, I think the guys would kind of understand where they’re at, where they need improvement. That’s really the fun part of the season is once they compete, they get a taste of it, they know what they need to do, so that’s really the key. It’s just having good competitions, and we have a really hard schedule, so that’ll help as well,” coach Andrew Frey said.
Many guys are returning this season, seniors Gunner Butt and Daugherty-Flick and juniors Blake Doss and William Glesing have taken early roles as leaders on the team. With this leadership the team is improving and
“I would say leaders sticking out right now would be Glesing, Blake Doss, Gunner Butt, Gabe Flick, or the top four that come to mind. They all have experience. Glesing and Butt have stayed experience, and then hopefully the other two aren’t too far behind on that. So those guys have done a good job being juniors and seniors, kind of bringing along the younger crew as well, kind of showing them how it’s done,” Frey said.
With all these goals in mind the team is showing signs of discipline and maturity going into this season. Displaying their hard work in practice, confidence is on the rise among the team.
“Our team, we’re working really hard. I mean, from day one, from the first practice, we had a couple weeks ago. We brought the energy, and we’re working really hard in practice. I think if we just keep pushing each other and getting better every day, everything’s gonna turn out good,” Doss said.
The program has grown a lot in recent years. With more members coming in and putting in work than before. The team is bonding and working together on and off the mat to improve each other.
“The connection’s really grown, especially since my freshman year, because there were a total of maybe 16 people on the team. Since then, it’s around 60 now everyone knows each other, everyone has a good time. It’s fun, so it’s a good environment,” Daugherty-Flick said. “There’s a lot of extra practice my teammates go through. It can help each other out and talk to each other, going into other people’s places and more practice, clubs and all that”
Having a full season ahead of them the boys are looking to achieve more than they did last year. With their confidence, work and performance coach Frey knows they’ll succeed.
“We’re definitely set up in a way to do as well as last year, and hopefully maybe a little better. We have some team goals in mind, and if these guys continue to work hard and put things in place, we’re in a good position to reach those schools,” Frey said, “probably the best hardworking crew that I’ve seen in the last eight years, so that’s exciting for me.”
