This school year at Fair Grove High School, students found out that they were getting a new sport which was wrestling. Since then, students and coaches have been continuing on in their season and continue to learn and grow as the season comes to an end.
Since this has been a new sport this year, there have been many new things for the students and coaches to learn. Coach Cole Johnston stated, “Obviously with a brand new program there is a lot of learning going on not only for the students participating but also for the coaches.”
Johnston also explained how he thinks this wrestling season has gone pretty well and expects to end the year with a bang.
Another coach, Natalie Palomo, also had some positive things to say about this new wrestling season and program. She explained, “Our kids are learning and growing every day, which is all we can ask for with a new program and new athletes. It’s been cool to see them stepping up to improve themselves and help each other improve.”
For student athletes like Brylee Mallard (10) who just started wrestling, she explained how they have had a successful season so far, for being new this year. Mallard shared, “I feel for a first year program we have had really great success. For not having any experience before this season our team has really stepped up and learned as much as we can with the opportunities we have had.”
Throughout the season, Mallard added the impact that her coaches have had on her, “The coaches are awesome. Mrs. Palomo always has a great positive attitude that is contagious. Mr. J brings a fun atmosphere to the team that wouldn’t be the same without him.”
She shared, “Coach Holt is awesome at making sure that we aren’t discouraged, but also pushes the team to be the best through the losses and wins, he also is amazing at explaining wrestling to a team who has never done it before.”
For the upcoming season starting next year, the coaches believe that there will be more and more student athletes that will join the program. Palomo explained how she has had many 8th grade students come up to her and say that they are planning on joining the wrestling team whenever they get to high school.
She shared that there have been several students that are already in high school that wish they did wrestling this year and are planning on doing it next year.
If a student athlete plays more than one sport Johnston explained how wrestling can help make a positive impact on the other sports they are in, “ Wrestling helps develop athleticism which translates and helps in other sports like football…”
Mallard shared how her experience in wrestling has helped her in the other sports she said, “Personally, wrestling has not only helped me with the sport itself but also allowed for many advantages with the other activities and softball.”
Coming to the ending of their first wrestling year, the team will compete in the Class 1 District 2 Tournament starting on February 21st through the 22nd.
