Wrestling stays strong

By Dolly Prabhu, Staff Reporter

The sport of wrestling is exclusively for the strong and the strong of heart.

The Conestoga wrestling team continues to verify this declaration with talented athletes and a successful season to back them up all the way.

Most notable of this year’s many achievements was senior captain Gregg Gruschow’s 100th  varsity win, a feat only 11 other Conestoga wrestlers have accomplished in the past.

But along with the effort to win one-on-one matches, the Pioneers have many long-term aspirations as well, both as a team and on an individual level.

Meeting the high standards the wrestlers set for themselves requires dedication and resolve. For many Pioneers, wrestling is not only a physical challenge, but a mental one as well.

“The most important thing wrestling has taught me is the value of teamwork,” senior John Scuteri said. “You wrestle for more than just yourself. You wrestle for the other 13 guys that are counting on you.”

Despite the individual nature of the sport, there still remains a strong sense of unity among the athletes.

“The team is awesome this year,” Gruschow said. “Everyone gets along well and there is a tight bond even between the freshmen and the upperclassmen. Everyone has their spot on the team.”

With the season coming to an end, the Pioneers are preparing for a final push to finish off another strong season. They’ve had a great run so far and, along with the efforts of many high-potential underclassmen, the future can only get brighter in the years ahead.

Dolly Prabhu can be reached at dprabhu@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 21 of The Spoke’s Feb. 23, 2010 edition.