This season, it wasn’t just about pins and wins. The wrestling team was introduced to a whole new way of practice, bonding, and resilience training that brought the group closer together as athletes individually, and teammates. The boys and the girls teams were more connected this season, and the team’s dynamic definitely shifted in a positive direction. 

One of the hardest in-season tournaments the team participated in was the Sam-Cali Tournament at the Morristown Armory back in late December. One team member, junior Chace Severs, placed third at the tournament to kick off the season. 

Severs stated, “going up against the top seed in the bracket was an uplifting moment because I still succeeded at the end of the tournament.” He also added, “seeding isn’t important. At the end of the day it’s about who really wants it the most.” 

Girls wrestling as a whole is a very rapidly growing sport, where more and more girls are putting their skills to the test. Junior Samantha Lara mentioned how she personally got out of her comfort zone and was proud to have placed sixth in District 1 as a second-year wrestler. 

Lara expressed, “Wrestling has shown me discipline, improvement, and mental toughness.” Her words acknowledge the challenges of the sport while emphasizing the fact that anyone can grow to love it and develop a meaningful connection with wrestling.

The team welcomed a new coaching staff this season, and as a whole, they highlighted many improvements. The wrestlers expressed their eagerness to work with the coaches again in the future in order to build culture and learn respect and composure. Most importantly, the team learned that failing does not make you weak- it makes you stronger. These are values that will carry them into the next season. 

The starting wrestlers on the team this year were seniors Alex Helphingstine, Masen Romero, and Daniel Kyzima. Juniors were led by Anthony Rodriguez, Brian Yanotta, Christian Jung, Chace Severs, and Frank Monto. Sophomores this year included Aidan Meehan, Craig Palatucci, Joseph Monto, Mark Centrione, Nicholas Jung, and Rafael Torres. 

Girls on the team were juniors Alexandra McCracken, Amanda Scarpati, Luciana Gallagher, Mia Frasca, and Samantha Lara. Sophomore wrestlers included Aaleyah Keckeissen and Gabriella Jaquez along with freshman Sophia Washburn. 

Gallagher gave her input about the season and team and said, “The bond with the team this year was especially different and more positive because each year we gain more girls to the sport and the community just grows as a whole.”

The team as a whole definitely had a “shifting” year with a new coaching staff who the team spoke highly about, as the wrestlers gained a true understanding of what it means to be a dedicated teammate.