With fall coming to an end, it’s the start of a new season and one sport we will be looking for is wrestling. After the atoms impressive season last year, they look to improve and succeed, focusing on one goal: winning districts as a team. Individual goals are set for certain returning state competitors trying bring home the gold. Wrestling coach Keith Sholders has high hopes for their season. Sholders talks about how his team has prepared for the season

“We are working together, running, lifting and working extremely hard,” Sholders said. “I am most excited for our team unity and coming together and rise above each challenge we have.”

The Grappling Atoms have introduced new freshmen into the interesting sport of wrestling, and have been teaching them new techniques that will be beneficial to the wrestlers so that in a match they can score points and win matches for Annandale. With a record of 20-9, they look to improve and become the number one seed in the district.

“My specific goals are to get optimal effort out of our individual wrestlers, and that will help us be great students and champions in and out of the classroom.” Sholders said

Senior Tony Gibbs, who wrestles for the Grappling Atoms at a weight of 220, looks to become state champion this year. While last year, he placed eighth place. This year Gibbs has his eyes set on the number one spot.

“I’m going to turn it up to the next level and try to the best of my ability to win states,” Gibbs said

Gibbs has been training hard for the upcoming season. He has been working and playing other sports so he can be conditioned for wrestling.

“I played football in the fall which helped me prepare for wrestling. I also lifted and ran on my own.”

Gibbs expressed how badly he wanted to be state champion and with his hard work and dedication that goal might be met.

Another wrestler in his last season is Senior Wesley Miller, who also went to states last year but sadly fell short and ended up getting eighth place.  This year, Miller is faced with a bigger competition as he now moves a weight class up from 170 to 182. Miller is the type of wrestler who likes to share his talents with the other wrestlers; he wants his team to succeed and conquer in districts. Miller looks at wrestling as more mental than physical.

“My individual goal is to win the state championship at 182 pounds and as a team win the district championship,” Miller said.

Miller has his sights set on winning states, and he will work as hard as he can to accomplish his goal.

The Grappling Atoms looking promising and strong are going to work hard this season to be the best they can possibly be.