As the winter wrestling season wraps up, the Viper Wrestling team end their season with a couple title belts on their hands. This past November, the wrestlers competed in Austin Texas Duals, in which they came out with a 5-0 lead. In addition to duals, the Vipers placed 2nd out of 46 teams at the Capital Classic Competition and are looking to next year with high hopes, focusing on intense training and individual development.
“We train with a mix of strength conditioning and technique,” sophomore Garrett Runhaar said. “During the period, we either lift or rerun, and after school, we practice wrestling for an hour and a half, focusing on hard drilling and technique.”
The competition and practice schedule during the season is demanding, with up to three competitions a week, including weekend tournaments, dual tournaments on Wednesdays and practices after school every day, with a mix of strength conditioning and technique work.
“I think I did pretty well, much better than last year,” Runhaar said. “I just fell short of my overall goal, but I’m looking forward to redeeming myself next year.”
For junior wrestler Sky Nelms, the season proved to be a journey of personal growth. Sky began the season struggling but found success after adjusting to the pace of the season. Throughout the competitions, she has come out on top in several tournaments, earning 2nd place at the Brawl at the Lake Event.
“I got third in my district, and I wasn’t too confident about how regionals would go, but I pushed through and ended up getting third in regionals,” junior Sky Nelms said. “I qualified for state, which was unexpected, and it felt amazing. I’m excited for next season to see how much more I can improve and hopefully get on the state podium.”
The camaraderie of the wrestling team plays a significant role in motivating each athlete, despite the sport’s individual nature. The Vipers team involves a variety of grade-levels, creating a community within athletes that share the same love for wrestling.
“Even though wrestling is an individual sport, there’s still this team bond that pushes me,” Runhaar explained. “I feel like I owe it to my teammates to give my best effort. We work hard together, and when I’m out there on the mat, I’m representing the whole team.”
Both Garrett and Sky are looking forward to next season, focusing on refining their technique and pushing themselves to achieve new goals. For Garrett, that means improving his intensity during practice, while Sky is determined to earn a spot on the state podium.
“In one word, wrestling is hard work. Wrestling demands everything from you, but if you don’t work hard, you won’t get anything out of it.”
