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Boys Wrestling Team Continues to do Well Despite Losing Top Athletes Last Year

Junior+DJ+Dillon+wins+a+match+at+Francis+Howell+North+against+Troy+Buchanan+Trojans+on+Dec.+14%2C+2023.+The+Knights+ended+up+losing+to+the+Trojans+46-36.

Credit to Holly Samuels

Junior DJ Dillon wins a match at Francis Howell North against Troy Buchanan Trojans on Dec. 14, 2023. The Knights ended up losing to the Trojans 46-36.

 After a great 2021 season that saw a big wave of seniors graduating, the boys wrestling team has been able to maintain their momentum throughout this season despite the setback of losing two state qualifiers. With a record of 4-1 and the team starting the season strong winning their first four meets, the boys have the intention of improving their already impressive record as the season progresses.

“We lost two state qualifiers from last year but we definitely haven’t lost momentum this season,” head coach Chris Brown said. “We started off the season the exact same as last year with a 4-1 record going into Christmas break.”

There are many qualities that factor into the team’s continued success such as their work ethic, team environment and the coaching. Many of the athletes have also been training extensively during the off season to make sure they’re in top shape for when this season began. Junior Trystan Blenis believes that the team is excelling at all three and contributes that to the team’s current success.

“I think we all work really hard and it helps [that] we all get along and learn from each other,” Blenis said. “Coach Brown is an awesome coach and he teaches us a lot during our practices and meets.”

As the season progresses the boys have each been working to reach their own personal goals that they’ve set at the beginning of the season. These goals have helped them stay motivated throughout the season and perform the best they can.

“We all want to win our matches and the meets we are at so it’s definitely motivating when we do win,” Blenis said. “My biggest goal is to make it to state at the end of the season and to hopefully do well there.”

The training and practice the boys are going through has been setting them up to succeed and do their best at meets and during matches. Coach Brown has been training the boys to be at their peak when they compete and it’s been paying off for many of the boys so far. The team will have their last meet on Feb. 1 against Parkway North after placing 9th at the GAC tournament. 

“They’re doing great so far and we have a lot of goals I’d still like to achieve before the end of the season like sending as many of them as I possibly can to state,” Brown said. “They’ve all been training hard though and it’s showing during competitions.”