As the winter season tryouts conclue, one team in particular is setting up for a year with high hopes: The Grappling Atoms wrestling team.
This year, the team is heading into a fresh season with many returning wrestlers such as reigning Natioanal District Champion and 2x state qualifier, Jordy Lopes-Funez.
As Lopes and the Grapping Atoms gear up for a season to remember, a few important health checks are required.
As tryouts start for the Atoms, wrestlers are required to participate in and pass a hydration test, which is key in wrestling. A hydration test ensures that wrestlers are able to drop and maintain weight.
“The hydration/body fat test was a solution to combat unnecessary and dangerous weight cutting,” explains Head Wrestling Coach Joshua Damico.
This important step in the season starter process in a lifesaver for wrestlers around the world.
This year, the Grappling Atoms saw growth in participation, as the team grew from 30 wrestlers last season to 50 wrestlers this year. With this growth, Damico added a slate of new coaches, including three Atom alumni and a former JMU wrestler. Damico called the squad of coaches the “band of misfit toys.”
Along with a new slate of coaches comes a new slate of goals and ambitions. According to Damico, his goals for the team are to have “multiple district champions, top 3 in the district [tournament] and a winning record for the mens team.” These are all optomistic goals for the team whos coming off a strong season last year.
As the team has grown, the Atoms are led by three returning captains, Senior Jordy Lopez-Fuentes, Senior Issac Readinger, and Senior Dom Vejkic. These captains are returning knowing the “captain” label comes with great responsibility.
According to Damico, these captains are an “extension of the coaches on the mat, in the room and in the school” for all 50 athletes competing.
Strong leadership from these captains should help push this strong willed team towards their ambitious goals set by head coaches.
From a captain’s perspective, the team has shows tons of progress on the mat. According to Senior Issac Readinger, “[the team’s] effort and grit on the mat as well as our ability to fine tune our techniques has been a highlight so far.”
This continuous grit is a well known trait for the Grappling Atoms. Maximum effort comes high rewards as the Grappling Atoms have some exciting matches coming up. One match that stands out to Readinger is the “Morgantown West Virginia” match where the Atoms will explore West Virginia University and wrestle against a local high school.
In all, The Grappling Atoms Mens and Womens team are setting up for a great year on the mat, and fans are encouraged to follow the team at the upcoming scrimmage Nov. 20th at home, and check the Atoms Athletics website for more match dates.
Fans can follow the team on instagram @grappling_atoms where you can expect livestreams of matches and tournaments, updates on the team and more important news on the Atoms!
