As the wrestling team faces off against more and more schools, their competition begins to increase. With one month of wrestling down and the approach of the second month of the season, the team works to perfect their technique and skill to increase their chance of winning. With six to seven days of practices a week, and meets almost every Wednesday, the wrestling team has their work cut out for them.
“I feel like our season is going very well. We have a lot of underclassmen that are really stepping up and doing their part and everyone is giving it their all,” senior Ryan Kredel said.
Freedom’s wrestling team played against Beaver, Hopewell, Laurel, West Allegheny, South Side Beaver, Central Valley, Carlyngton, Moon, Montour, Blackhawk, Ellwood City, Ambridge, Burgettstown, Eisenhower, Quaker Valley and South Park this past month. In which they won against Beaver (52-14), Hopewell (47-21), Laurel (49-18), Blackhawk (66-12), South Side Beaver (54-19), with many more matches to come. During this winning streak, the wrestling team captains, Kredel and juniors Jordan Delon and Gavyn McCray have given a morale boost to not only the team, but the fans. Freedom wrestling will face off again in the District 7AA Section North Competition on Feb. 17, the District 7AA competition on Feb. 23 and 24, The SouthWest AA Regional on March 1 and 2and finally the PIAA AA Championships March 7, 8 and 9.
“I think our wrestling season is going well. We are 5/0 this season which puts our team first in the section. We have been able to do this because everybody is pushing each other at practice,” freshman Brayden Reynolds said.
Every wrestling season the WPIAL holds a tournament for all the schools in Western Pennsylvania called the MAC tournament. Freedom competed against Hopewell, Laurel, Mars, Blackhawk, Moon, Central Valley, Montour, Ambridge, Ellwood City, South Side Beaver, West Allegheny, Quaker Valley, Beaver and Carlyngton, in which they had junior Camden Bruce and freshman Kaden Milward place fifth, and Reynolds place third. Finally, the championship finalists were McCray and sophomore ZeShawn Williams. The MAC tournament is one of many tournaments the wrestling season holds for the players. With a multitude of tournaments, meets and other activities there is a lot of competition in these events.
“Our meets and tournaments are going great. We are undefeated in our section but it has all started at practice, everyone goes 100% all the time and that is one of the reasons why we are doing so well,” Delon said.