BY KAYLA GATES
As winter approaches, the CCHS wrestling team is warming up for their upcoming season. Intense training is underway for both new and returning players. The Cowboys recently had the opportunity to put their progress to the test, participating in the first meet of the year.
With the season beginning, Coach Scott Sodergren worked to prepare his team for the competitions to come. The season lasts from November until March, however, tryouts and training began in early October. The team continued to practice until their first meet of the school year.
“I couldn’t believe I won my first varsity match,” Gelman said. “I hope to get even better with some more practice.”
“Wrestling has definitely been a big commitment,” freshman Dylan Bernowitz said. “But I really enjoy it and want to continue.”
The team’s first tournament took place on Wednesday, November 28 at 4 p.m. The Cowboys traveled to St. Thomas Aquinas High School. There, they competed against three other high schools. The competition included St. Thomas, McArthur and J.P. Taravella.
The event was a preseason meet, meaning the results didn’t count toward the actual season. However, the Cowboys viewed it as a great opportunity to practice their technique and experience the competition level they will face in the future. While the score may not have been official, the team used it to measure their progress.
During the meet, players had the opportunity to put their skills to the test. Participants were paired with competitors from their weight class, attempting to pin them to the mat. Players competed in multiple rounds, hoping to win as many as possible. The Cowboys saw many individual victories, with the majority of rounds being won.
The team gained new additions this school year, many of them being freshmen. With new players came the need for intense practice, allowing them to adjust to the sport. One freshman, in particular, proved that his training had paid off.
Freshman Mateo Gelman stood out among his teammates at the first meet of the season. Gelman competed in a total of three matches during the tournament. Although he lost his first two, Gelman won his third match, a victory no other freshman had achieved. His teammates cheered as Gelman pinned his opponent, a student from Taravella in his weight class.
“It was a good meet to get us started,” Sodergren said. “It didn’t count, but we saw a lot of good things to work with.”
“I couldn’t believe I won my first varsity match,” Gelman said. “I hope to get even better with some more practice.”
Cooper City High School won, tied and lost in the overall standings. The Cowboys beat Taravella and tied with McArthur at the tournament. However, they lost to St. Thomas, whose team outranked the other competitors. The Cowboys finished the meet with a 1-1-1 record.
“It was a good meet to get us started,” Sodergren said. “It didn’t count, but we saw a lot of good things to work with.”
Overall, the coach and players were satisfied with their performance at the tournament. The unofficial meet allowed the team to practice their moves and adjust to the competition. And while the Cowboys may not have achieved a perfect victory, they hope to improve upon the mistakes made. With the remainder of the season still ahead, the team looks forward to a successful year.
Photo by The Lariat photography
