Taking on a sport in high school can be tough, as it can tire you out and leave little time for homework and studying. However, Wrestling is ” A really great way to unwind and release anger and stress,” says Isabella Sebring (‘25). The WGHS wrestling program is a fun-filled sport that offers a positive environment for the team. One thing that makes wrestling different from any other sport at Willow Glen High School is that it is the only sport that competes coed. The boys and girls practice together, and occasionally compete together in school vs. school duels.
Wrestling is a no-cut sport, and there are no tryouts; however, wrestling conditioning is known to be one of the toughest athletic experiences at WGHS. Both juniors, Damien Cain and JJ Gallis, agree that wrestling conditioning is just as strenuous as their experiences on the football field. Both explain how the conditioning is extremely intense due to the amount of cardio they undergo such as running up and down the bleachers. Gallis is currently on the football team at Willow Glen High School and while he can’t participate in wrestling conditioning, he says that he would “count football [games and practices] as conditioning [for wrestling].”
While it can be hard to get into a new sport, it is known that the environment of our Willow Glen wrestling team is very open and accepting. Casey Azus (‘25) said “We all have partners around our weight so we all hang out and get closer with the people in our weight class.” Sebring also touched on her prior CCS experiences in Watsonville, and the team bonding that takes place. Sebring likes the format of the all-day event, where they have a barbecue and potluck, while the team gets to sit around a fire and wait for their matches. When it comes time for one of our Willow Glen wrestlers to have their match, the whole team gets up to support them and cheer them on inside the gym. The team does need to be at the tournament by 6 AM, however, many agree that the early wake-up (Sebring had to get up at 3 for CCS last year) is well worth it because it offers opportunities to bond with their teammates.
Like any sport, students learn to balance school with their athletics. It can be challenging for athletes to find time for homework; however, they always make it work. The wrestling schedule is pretty intense, with practices Monday through Thursday. For the students on varsity, there are also practices on Fridays. Several members of the team explained how last year’s coach, Randy Ratliff, was very understanding with homework; the team members were still required to come to practice but they were given time to complete their homework.
