With a new wave of underclassmen joining the girls wrestling team, they prepare to perform at their highest level throughout the season on the mat. This season, they are also trying to rebuild themselves now that a majority of their former team is no longer at Warren.
With this now smaller group of girls and only a few underclassmen joining the team, during their practices, they have been focusing on going more in-depth with their techniques and taking their time to learn. They hope to build a strong team spirit and foster a strong team environment throughout the season.
“This year, since our team is smaller, we're focusing on teaching everyone thoroughly, taking our time to learn together and practicing new takedowns to build a stronger, more united team,” senior Breanne Birdsong said.
Since a major part of the team has graduated, many of the remaining members have had to take on the challenge of having to step up and be leaders for the girls who’ve just joined the team this season.
In addition to losing the team members they looked up to last year, who were meant to guide them throughout the season, they’ve had to get comfortable with being the people that newcomers look up to for advice. This advice includes how to perform certain techniques or takedowns and even having to answer questions that may not have a clear answer, since wrestling can be a sport that has a complex ruleset.
“I have had to step up as a leader more this year because with newer girls coming in, they are gonna look for someone like me who knows a bit more for comfort or help outside of the coaches,” junior Ryanna Benson said. “Last year, they could glance past me because I wondered the same things they did, so we were in the same boat.”