Fighting for victory is one aspect to focus on, but the wrestling team is turning its attention to individual achievements rather than team results.
“Unfortunately, as a team we have not won a single match this season,” junior Ian Harvey said. “We don’t have enough guys on the team so we can’t win anything no matter what.”
In order to properly compete in any match, there must be at least one person to represent each weight class.
“Between the struggling new guys and the guys that keep quitting we just don’t have enough people to even practice with,” Harvey said. “Let alone fill all the weight classes needed to create a full team. Even if we all pinned our guy, which is worth the most team points towards the meet we still wouldn’t win because we have so many empty slots that count against us.”
These empty weight classes were not empty during the start of the season, but slowly throughout the season guys have been cuttings ties with the team.
“All but five people have quit this season, so that makes about 13 or 14 people who have quit the team,” freshman Gavin Vanhoogstate said. “If it was easy I guess everyone would do it.”
As more guys have quit, the team has moved their focus from only winning, to individual accomplishments and supporting one another.
“As a team we are really funny and supportive of each other when we lose, but honestly few of us know how to wrestle,” sophomore Tucker Jesse said. “We have one varsity and one JV team and they are made up of the same five people.”
With the lack people trying out and people quitting, Harvey stepped up to the plate as a role model in an effort to bring back some team moral.
“I would definitely consider Ian Harvey to be the leader of the team,” Jesse said. “He has a lot more experience than most of us and he’s very committed to the team which is something we have been lacking of lately.”
While as a team they are struggling, certain individuals seem to be making some progress of their own.
“I plan to go to the national tournament and represent Missouri at the National Championship,” Harvey said. “To do that I have to place first in state, and I fully expect to come home with a win.”
Taking a look at next year, brings a new prospect of hope for this dwindling team.
“Next year I hope we get some fresh faces that are willing to give the sport a try,” Harvey said. “Hopefully all of those people will also stay committed to the team and not give up, we have already had a enough of that to last us a few years.”