The Aliso Niguel wrestling team is looking to dominate their league this season and has been training very hard to be in the best shape possible.
With individual accolades on the line such as varsity spots being challenged and tournament placements to destined CIF team glory, it makes wrestling all the more worth fighting for.
At Aliso Niguel, Wrestling is one of two sports, alongside football, that offers a no-cut program for students to participate in without the need for tryouts.
Individual weight classes can be divided into fourteen different classes, starting at 106 pounds to the heavyweight class at over 225 pounds.
This year’s captains are Garen Keshishian (11) and Khaisen Chen (12).
In order to prepare for this new season, Derek Seo, a junior on the boys wrestling team gave his knowledge about the preparation it takes to wrestle at a high level.
“My eating habits are very different in season in comparison to the offseason. To meet the weight requirements for duals and tournaments, the team has a weight-cut practice where we workout to sweat as much as possible.”
Seo added, “Majority of the time, if I need to lose weight fast, I will not eat anything throughout the day and only drink water.”
The boys team started the year off with the Glendora duals in the preseason at Glendora High School. They took home second place and performed well for the first dual of the season.
After, the boys team had a 10-team face-off at Capo Valley High School followed by Senior Night at home when the Wolverines took on El Toro in Nov. The senior wrestlers were also celebrated and accompanied by their friends and family as the duel was synonymous with Senior Night.
In the final hour before an important duel, Seo gave what he is going through mentally.
“I often listen to music thirty minutes before my match to take my mind off it so I can relax a bit. Right before my match, I will do a light warmup, pray, and visualize my match. I also think of what techniques I will use to win at all costs”
Since Senior Night, the boys wrestling team has gone and placed second at the Rim of the World tournament, and successfully protected the Den at home, coming up victorious in a head-to-head duel with Tesoro High School.
The boys team most recently faced a hard-fought battle against San Clemente High School, unfortunately coming up short. The Wolverine’s dual record has been 1-2 in league.
For the girls side of the program, hard work and determination are key assets for the team. The team competed against San Clemente at the beginning of Nov. and worked extremely hard at the Capo 4-Way tournament.
During their Senior Night against El Toro, the Wolverines got a decisive dual win, proving that they have what it takes to perform in high-pressure matches.
The girls also got three medals at the Laguna Hills Tournament and five medals at the Blackwatch tournament. Six girls got medals from San Dimas.
Priya Harrington commented on how team chemistry is shaping up this season. “The team is like a second family to me, with a very strong bond. During our toughest moments in wrestling, we motivate and help each other. Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy and there’s no substitute for hard work.”
The Girls team looks towards closing out the regular season with more victories.
