Lack of participants seems to be a theme among Berlin athletics this year, and wrestling is no exception. Wrestling is a sport that has both a team and individual component to the scoring. Low numbers really diminishes the chance of Berlin winning team meets.
“A big challenge that is almost too hard to overcome is our lack of numbers. When we only have seven wrestlers we are potentially giving the other team 42 free points every dual assuming that they have a full roster. This obviously makes it a lot harder to win.” senior Joseph Garczynski said.
This, however, does not stop the wrestlers from working hard to get better. Seniors Joe Garczynski and Wyatt Miller as well as freshman Jakob Martin are some of the wrestlers Head Coach Scott Wagner recognized for their hard work and dedication.
“I’ve been very impressed with the work ethic of my seniors. Joe Garczynski stays after practice every day working on technique. Wyatt Miller is one of the hardest workers that I’ve had. I’ve also been impressed with how Jakob Martin has stepped in as a freshman at 195 and has performed very well,” Wagner said.
Martin is one of two freshmen on the team and has a big role wrestling at the 195-pound weight class. Being a freshman on any varsity sports team is an adjustment. Many times he is wrestling kids two or three years older, but for Martin this gives him motivation to show what he can do.
“This year I’m one of the youngest on the team which means I wrestle older guys. That does make it more difficult to win matches, but I’ve learned winning a match 1 to 0 is still a win. I’ve also learned that you need to take pride in it and you don’t need to go out and pin every kid you wrestle. Also, being a freshman on the team means you are underestimated which I take as a challenge to impress and to show what I can do, no matter who my opponent is,“ Martin said.
Martin as well as the rest of the team’s main goal is just to make it as far as possible and have fun. For Garczynski, knowing it’s his last year is giving him the motivation to succeed.
“My main two goals for this season, as it is my senior year, are to have fun and to give it my all. I want to enjoy every moment since it’s my last year to do so, and I want to try my best in every match because I don’t want to finish my last season knowing that I could’ve tried harder and that I didn’t use the opportunities that I was given,” Garczynski said.
The next time the wrestlers will be in action is Thursday, Jan 26 in Winneconne.