WG Wrestling Starts Open mat practices and sets hopes high for upcoming season.

On Tuesday, September 1, Walnut Grove Wrestling began its open mat practices for the year.
by Semaj Chestnut and Harrison Smith

On Tuesday, September 1, Walnut Grove Wrestling began its open mat practices for the year.

​pen mat practices are an exciting opportunity for new and returning wrestlers to showcase their skills and learn how to improve before the season begins. For many wrestlers, it's also a sign of how the team will perform during the season. This year's first open mat practices have raised hopes for many wrestlers and coaches, and many are ready to make those hopes come true on the mat.
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Mason Bender, a senior, is an experienced wrestler. He's been on the team since his freshman year and has taken up a leadership role this year as an upperclassman. Throughout all his years on the team, last year was his favorite. “We had an excellent year, man. We made some major upsets. We upset the former state champions; we really just out-wrestled ourselves. At the start of the season, a lot of our old guys were new and hadn’t had varsity time before that, and to see them grow to the level they are at now is amazing, and to see them all succeed, having a bunch of state qualifiers.” With as much success as the team had last season, it's clear to see why the team's hopes are as high as they are. Mason, in particular, has very high hopes: “Just get a bunch of new wrestlers, mainly freshmen, to really enjoy the sport, and honestly, I really look forward to state this year. I think we have a good chance to win it all.”

Parker Steketee, a junior, shares many of Mason's hopes. Parker has also been wrestling since his freshman year and has delivered solid performances in varsity wrestling. Along with Mason and other upperclassmen, Parker is focusing on helping the new and returning wrestlers. “Right now, we’re doing stuff for the new guys. So just basic doubles and defensive moves, basically.” Many wrestlers' hopes are impacted by last season or their own performances at practice, but Parker is hopeful because of the turnout. “It’s really good. We have about 30 to 40 guys showing up every day, so it’s looking pretty good this year.” Balancing leadership and preparation can be difficult, but Parker doesn't mind the challenge if he's doing it for the sport he loves.

Maverick Verdin, a junior, has taken a focused approach to training. He is concentrated on the season ahead and the newcomers' impact on the team. “We have a lot of new people, so we're just trying to train them as best we can and make sure they're prepared for the season.” While Maverick is excited that there are new wrestlers coming to practice, he does see areas where they can improve. “It's definitely a challenge for them, especially for the ones who haven't done sports, but they're definitely getting better.” Although he acknowledges areas for growth, Maverick remains confident that the newer wrestlers will make a strong impact on the team.

Looking at all the athletes, new or returning, it's clear that the team has high expectations for the upcoming season. The squad is putting in the work to train both the newcomers and returning wrestlers to become even better. Walnut Grove High School takes pride in its wrestling team and is excited to see where they will take the program in the new season.