Senior Lieb Wexler takes down his opponent in a match against Cardinal Gibbons. Photo credit: Kayla Lokeinsky
BY KEVIN KOPLIN
Wrestling is a sport, which requires strength, agility, toughness, and power. Grappling your opponent to the ground through an intense arsenal of takedowns, escapes, and reversals, wrestlers must truly master their craft to become dominant, and here at Cooper City High School, dominant is just one of the adjectives that can be used to accurately describe the wrestling team.
Yet, despite their success, the wrestlers do not have same following as other teams on campus.
“We don’t care if we don’t get as much support as football or basketball,” junior wrestler Benjamin Peace said. “Winning is all that matters.”
Coached by Scott Sodergren for the past 15 years, the Cowboys are coming off another great wrestling season. This comes as no surprise, however, as the Cowboys have won the district championship for the past 3 years and their winning tradition continued this season as the Cowboys won their 4th consecutive district title.
“This years team is certainly one of our better teams,” Coach Sodergren said, “We have had a lot of great groups.”
Sodergren has certainly seen his share of great teams. He was an All- American wrestler himself at the US Coast Guard Academy and knows what it takes to be the best. Through intense training, individual coaching techniques and countless other exercises the CCHS wrestling team is constantly getting better. Working out, scrimmaging and improving on their faults are some other methods of preparation leading up to a match, and although they might not have the biggest crowds, the Cowboys are always ready for competition.
“It’s fun to coach a group of hard working motivated guys,” Sodergren said. “The intensity in the room is great.”
The wrestling team is grateful for coach Sodergren’s tough teaching, which helps them grow as athletes. By individually going over each wrestler’s weaknesses from previous matches he teaches the team important strategies to become the best that they can.
The Cowboys took their talents to the BCAA County Wrestling Championships at the Coral Springs gymnasium, on January 21st and 22nd where they didn’t disappoint, finishing 6th out of the 30 schools. Senior Lieb Wexler finished first, a county champion. Senior Andre Cuff finished third, sophomore Barry Jones placed fourth, and Benjamin Peace finished seventh at the county championship.
The Cowboys great season wasn’t over quite yet, as the District 13-3A Championship approached on February 4th. At Flanagan High School the Cowboys won their 4th consecutive District Championship where Matt Lent, Joey Dakroub, Andre Cuff, and Lieb Wexler all finished first.
“It’s been an awesome year,” senior Andre Cuff said. “Its great to know all the hard work paid off.”
After yet another stellar season at CCHS, the Cowboys still look to improve for the 2011-2012 season and keep the wrestling team’s winning spirit alive.
