The steps to wrestling seem simple enough. Face your opponent, pin your opponent and win the match.

But it is actually much more complex than that. It takes weeks of strict discipline and training in order to be the best. The Willis Wrestling team has shown this by competing in districts, and now advancing to regionals tomorrow and Saturday at Allen High School. 

There is a lot of preparation and training that goes into being ready to participate in regionals, and just qualifying is a huge accomplishment. Participants spend weeks to months getting ready around the clock to be as good as they can when on the mat.

“I am preparing by focusing on what I need to fix and be ready for regionals,” junior David Ramirez said. “I try to focus on what I believe I could self-correct! Speed and endurance are my most important attributes, along with the mental game, such as preparing myself for what is to come. I also take care of my body by practicing every day and taking hot baths to help recover my muscles.”

Many people believe that wrestling is simply just pushing each other to the ground first, but it actually is a sport composed of strict discipline and training. Athletes have to work on their endurance and stick to strict diets in order to meet their weight class when it comes time to participate. 

“I have to have a lot of discipline, specifically, watching my diet, practicing my techniques, and conditioning during practice,” senior Tucker Bond said. “I am watchful of what I eat because I have to meet a specific weight class, and going over it means I can not wrestle. I am also trying to stay focused on what is in front of me and mentally preparing for being tired but still having to wrestle.” 

There are many ways that people focus on the match, including mapping out their next moves or anticipating what their opponent may do next. Others spend time alone or listen to different types of music in order to hype themselves up.

“Before my matches I always have a plan in mind, thinking of an array of moves to hit depending on what position I am in,” junior Steven Nguyen said. “Listening to music right before a match always helps as well.”

Events like regionals are things that give new wrestlers the moments they need to be motivated to keep going, it’s a fun experience for anyone involved. Wrestling is a sport that you get better at the longer you participate in it.

“I would tell new wrestlers to stick with the sport because you will reap the benefits of what it teaches you later,” Bond said. “The reward of sticking with wrestling is having a conditioned body and knowing how to hold your ground in a fight. Wrestling teaches you discipline because you have to manage what you eat, and you have to show up every day to get better. No one is going to be good in their first year of wrestling, it is going to summer camps, learning new techniques, and competing that will truly advance your skill set.”