The wrestling team goes under the radar of many at Central. But the team has made an impact on those who have been on it. For several years, Central did not have a wrestling team. This year was the restart of the team.
Many of the wrestlers this season were brand new to the sport, but they have all turned into athletes in just seven months, from August pre-season through February. Competing at the Tennessee State Championships demonstrated that the teams can compete on the biggest stage with the biggest and best wrestling programs. They are a great team who always tries to improve on something that they are already great at.
The team had two boys come out of region qualifying for sectionals, Octavio Corrales(9) and Caleb Crowley(10). There are also three girls wrestling for Central. Victoria Greenleaf(10) took 5 at Girl’s Region, top 4 to qualify for State and has only been wrestling since December.
There were about a dozen wrestlers at the start of the season, but now it has narrowed down with some injuries and some deciding it wasn’t for them. But there are at least a dozen incoming freshmen that have indicated they want to wrestle according to Coach Sobel.
“I “joke” we are not many but we are pretty good… it’s an exciting moment when you win your first match and then more wins follow; we built to where we throw some beautiful headlocks, lateral drops (throws), employ underhooks and front headlocks to ankle pics with speed that some that have wrestled a lifetime do no better,” said Coach Sobel.
While the team works extremely hard, they also believe that they should have fun in the process. “Wrestling is social, it’s a brotherhood and sisterhood for coaches and wrestlers – we have great respect for our opponents and often opponents are exchanging contact info,” said Sobel.
While the season is almost over, wrestling here at Central is going to leave a lasting mark on all of those who participate in it.
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