By Landon Totten and Westin Wright
Wrestling is a sport that demands hard work, determination, and grit. Matches last around six minutes, during which wrestlers face constant physical and mental challenges. As a solo sport, success depends entirely on the individual’s effort and preparation.
This year, two male wrestlers from the school advanced to the state competition: Braxton Barnes and Zach Schaffer. Although they competed in different weight brackets and were different ages, both had similar experiences at state. Each wrestler had to maintain a specific weight for their bracket, often losing pounds through rigorous practices and out-of-school workouts.
Both athletes came prepared and won their first matches. Their second matches were closely-contested losses, meaning they would need to fight through the backside of the bracket on the second day. They started the day early, waking around 6:00 a.m., and went through warm-ups ready to compete. On the second day, both wrestlers won their first backside matches, leaving just one match remaining to place.
Senior Zach Schaffer on the right
In their final matches, both gave everything they had, but it was not enough to secure a win. This loss ended their seasons. For senior Zach Schaffer, it marked the conclusion of his wrestling career. Freshman Braxton Barnes, however, still has three more years to return, continue improving, and compete for a state title.
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