Varsity:
The OHS boys wrestling team is in full tackle for its 2026 season. While the team heads to tournaments to win championships and medals, the real reward for wrestlers is making lasting connections with the team around them that will lead into adulthood.
Wrestling is a very demanding sport that requires discipline and confidence to thrive, but through the game, lasting connections with other players are forged.
“It’s pretty good, for varsity, the team is pretty connected—they’ve got everything figured out,” “JV… teamwork’s there and people want to be together,” said Deakin Davis, junior.
The benefits of wrestling can be seen on the mental side of players’ health through the bonds of community and discipline.
“It [has] given me a better mentality—I don’t give up on little things anymore. I focus on my goals now, and just try hard,” Davis said.
The discipline that OHS wrestlers display on tournament mats and in practice bleeds into their everyday lives in a good way, improving the way they handle things such as schoolwork.
JV:
“A lot of issues with wrestling come down to mental toughness. We’re teaching the players to keep going even if they’re down by a lot,” said Tom Devito, wrestling coach.
Due to new members joining the OHS wrestling team from football, these wrestlers have new challenges in the way they have to learn techniques they are not familiar with.
“We got a lot of kids from football this year, so physicality-wise, they’re doing better than last year, I would say. But, you know, techniques—we gotta get better,” said Andrew Lee, junior.
During this new season of wrestling, the coaches are bound to change some of their coaching techniques. With these changes, players are experiencing new ways to improve themselves and reach their goals.
“They push us harder in practices in that aspect. I really enjoy it,” Lee said.
For wrestlers who have been doing the sport for multiple years now, they find it important to remember to have fun in the sport they are playing, while still taking it seriously and giving it their all.“Honestly, I just have fun. Last year, I was cutting too much weight… [I was] just focusing on the outcome way too much. So this year, [I am] just having fun going out there and wrestling.” Lee said.
