WHS Wrestling hosted a two week training camp for junior high students to come and learn the ins and outs of wrestling. At the end of the camp a competition was held to put their skill to the test.

On April 1, Willis middle schoolers went head to head with Hunstville’s middle schoolers in wrestling duals.

“One of them won by spamming a half-nelson over and over until his brute strength won against his component,” freshman Stavros Zing said. “He was a football player so he just kind of went crazy.”

The clinic and dual provides the coached with a glimpse into the next class of athletes.

“We won’t know if the next class of wrestlers are promising until they come in,” junior MariPat Wilson said. “Talent isn’t the only thing that you need to be a wrestler, you need to be dedicated, practice everyday, and work everyday, manage your weight.”

Participating in a sport can test your mentality. By doing wrestling an athlete may find themselves and have the ability to push past the limits people set.

“With finding motivation you just slowly learn what your drive is throughout the school year with the help of coaches,” Zing said. “I think that’s something for themselves to discover, but with the aspect of a team to help them it’ll be easier.”

If a student is looking to strengthen his mind and body, wrestling is for him. This sport is a fierce one.

“We won’t know if the next class of wrestlers are promising until they come in,” Wilson said. “Talent isn’t the only thing that you need to be a wrestler, you need to be dedicated, work everyday, and manage your weight. These are the attributes of a promised wrestler.”

For some of the kids attending, it was their first physical match ever. There were some nerves, but all came out on the other side. 

“The environment was like any old wrestling duel, but for the kids since it was their first time they were obviously more nervous and skittish. They weren’t really cheering as loudly because they were mostly focusing on themselves compared to us who are always yelling and screaming during matches.”

Wrestling is definitely a physical sport. Grabbing, slamming, and pushing people is the norm.

“When I was in middle school, the people that taught me didn’t really help me,” Wilson said. “I wanted to be the person that did help the junior high people feel comfortable violently hugging sweaty people.”