This year saw a record breaking number of 110 students try out for the wrestling team, Pat Castillo, Varsity Wrestling Head Coach, said. 

Not only has there been a profound increase in the number of players, but the program has also found success in the last two years, Castillo said. Last year, varsity wrestling ended the season with seven all-conference wrestlers, one regional champion, and two state qualifiers, while also placing third overall in the conference with a record of 13-2. Along with the team’s improving statistics, in 2022 the varsity team marked a milestone for South wrestling by winning conference again for the first time in 50 years, Castillo said.

“There were some earlier years where we didn’t even have a winning record,” Castillo said. “But, we are going in the right direction.”

Despite the recent success, South wrestling has not always been this popular. In 2020, only 10 freshmen tried out for the team, in part because of Covid-19. Since then, the number of students trying out has increased, varsity wrestler senior Micheal Schick, said. 

“I [have] definitely noticed a shift in numbers over the last couple of years,” Schick said. “The freshman class grows every year so this year we are up to about 70 kids on the freshman team.”

The team is looking to be conference champions this year, varsity wrestler senior Sammy Kubba, said. Their biggest competitors are Maine South and Deerfield, which were the only two schools that placed higher than them last year.

“We’re fighting to earn our spot in South’s history,” Kubba said.

With wrestling currently thriving, the team hopes to improve by goal-setting, improving on last year’s record, and staying mentally tough, Kubba said. 

“We are working on having unbreakable mindsets, being able to push through, and knowing that we won’t always be on top,” Kubba said. “We’re gonna be competing with all we got, and try to prove ourselves this year.”