By Matthew Libersky

Sophomore Clay Corsbie wrestles with teammate during practice. Photos by: Matthew Libersky

The 2010-11 Wrestling team started their season off with a bang, getting first place out of six teams at their first meet and tournament at Culver Military Academy in November. This year’s team is “young” with a number of sophomores and freshmen in the varsity line-up.

Since then, the team has beaten Concord and lost close games to Goshen, Northwood, and Elkhart Memorial. Most of their meets are in December or January, with the exception of the state tournament in February.

This year, the team is coached by the head coach Mr. Read, who usually runs practice; assistant coaches Mr. Ryan Rust and Mr. Mills in addition to the volunteer coach Mr. Calhoun.

Since the team began practicing in early November, they have made it a point to be more “dedicated” to practicing and the sport as a whole. Clay Corsbie, a sophomore on the team, said he thinks that they have tried to be more “devoted to wrestling, and making it in every day, even for morning work-outs.”

“Our freshmen worked very hard last Spring at open mats,” Mr. Rust said. “Nathan Benham also put in a great deal of time.”

“We have tried quite a lot of new working techniques, varying from our work-outs to our stretching,” Corsbie continued. “I think our team this year has a lot of potential.”

In addition to finding new work-out techniques, Damon Howe, now a senior on the team placed 5th at State last season. “It’s great this year that he’s a senior now and helps us a lot,” Corsbie said.

Mr. Rust said that he is looking forward to seeing him wrestle at the semi-state and state tournaments this season and follow up his previous success.

Mr. John Mills observes another coach's demonstration of a technique during practice. Photo by: Matthew Libersky