When most people think of sports, wrestling is one of the first things that comes to mind. Wrestling is one of the school’s newest sports, having been introduced this year. The wrestling team is made up of eleven boys and girls who compete during the winter season

Many students are excited for the opportunity to have a new sport. “MACES adding a new sport to our school is amazing; it allows our students to try out something new. The more sports we have the more we can get students to join which is good for their mental and physical health” Aylin Narvaez, a junior said. Many benefits of joining a sport are teamwork and leadership skills, mentorship, time management, and academic skills.

Mr. Lopez, coach for the boys and girls wrestling team, is a first-year teacher and is currently teaching ninth-grade biology and has coached previously for five years. In his many years of coaching he has helped many of his athletes get Athletic scholarships. “Last season four out of five of our Girl seniors received Wrestling scholarships due to their accomplishments in the sport, placing at CIF and competing at CA State Championship,” Lopez said. He’s enjoying balancing both the start of the wrestling program along with his teaching career.

Wrestling is a physically and mentally demanding sport that requires them to gain endurance and strength to survive a six-minute match with someone in their face attempting to beat them up. They must make weight every week or every other week, which means they must make healthier choices. Wrestling techniques include clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins, and other grappling holds, the goal of wrestling is to pin their opponent to the mat and win the match.

Is there an age limit for students who want to join, and may both genders participate? Many students are pondering this thought. “Both genders can participate but when it comes to having our matches it’s between the same genders and the age requirement is fourteen to eighteen or from ninth grade to twelfth grade,” Alex Godoy, a freshman, said.

Participants must have a 2.0 GPA or higher in order to compete. Lopez, on the other hand, would like to have a study hall during the season. They also need shoes, headgear (to prevent cauliflower ear), workout clothes, and a singlet for competition.