Humiliation. Exhaustion. Pain. These are some of the struggles that wrestlers have to overcome everyday.

Wrestling, like any sport, requires commitment and dedication. Not only does it take these two qualities but it also requires self-discipline. Depending on one’s weight, players are put into different weight classes. Players have to manage their own weight and watch carefully what they eat, because if they don’t manage wisely they are at risk of losing their spot in weight. “There is only one varsity spot for every weight,” senior Brantley Melvin said.

A hot room full of athletes that are hungry for knowledge of the sport may encounter mental struggles. In order to cope with these struggles players are constantly reminded by a poster to “put doubt in its place flat on its back.” Many posters like this are served for motivational purposes that should bring positive feelings. “When someone is physically breaking you down during a match you have to mentally work through that,” head coach Andre Uyeda said.

School and wrestling may be hard to manage for some because of the intense workout and lifestyle that many choose in order to play this sport. “After practice you’re tired but in the back of your mind you have to do school work,” junior Christian Sanchez said.

Another challenging aspect of the sport occurs during the holidays when players’ families eat a lot of food that players may not be able to consume because they have to meet weight. After having to sacrifice something such as food and find out that you still have to drop weight gets frustrating. “It’s hard at practice if you are like two pounds over weight, but you have to push through it,” junior Eduardo Vargas said.

This is even more true during a match for Melvin when he feels as though he may not win his match. In order to push through this challenge he tells himself, “I want it more than the other guy,” he said. “And I will do whatever it takes to push through and get what I want.” With this mentality and drive to do better the team is determined to do well during season. “It takes grades, guts and ganas (desire) to wrestle,” Uyeda said.