March 14, 2023
By Martine Rivas
Staff Writer
The wrestling team ended its season with a record of 10-8. The team finished its season on a high note with a 60-24 win in an away match versus Orange High School on Feb. 11.
Freshman Aitana Lozano said, compared to softball and volleyball, which she also plays, wrestling is more challenging.
“It is a very hard sport mentally and physically. You have to trick your mind, and even when you want to give it, you keep going,” Lozano said.
She said wrestling is a unique sport.
“It is really aggressive. There [also] aren’t many girls, and… even though it’s a team, it’s only you in a circle,” Lozano said. “It’s a really independent sport.”
Lozano wrestled in middle school but said high school wrestling is a lot more intense due to daily practices. She said she hopes to see new talent join the team next year.
“It’s really sad because a lot of our best wrestlers are leaving,” Lozano said.
“Leading up to my sophomore year through the post- and preseason, I had probably the best preparation from my coaches that I could’ve asked for.”
Sophomore Ava Krzykalski said this season was a lot less stressful for her compared to last season. She said last season she cut her weight from 117 to 107 pounds, which caused her mental and physical issues. This season, she decided to compete at her walking weight, which is 114 pounds.
“This season [was] operating much smoother thanks to no longer cutting weight, proper nutrition, figuring out the best ways to mentally prepare for tournaments and matches and working with coaches who have been with me from the beginning,” Krzykalski said.
Although she did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 10 years before starting to wrestle, Krzykalski said it was still a big transition.
“Coaches were definitely uncertain about what to expect from a girl with potential,” Krzykalski said. “Leading up to my sophomore year through the post- and preseason, I had probably the best preparation from my coaches that I could’ve asked for.”
In addition to being on LHS’ team, Krzykalski participates in club wrestling at Scorpions Wrestling School in Fairfield and Myland Wrestling Club in Linden.
Krzykalski said she hopes to continue wrestling in college. She said in order to reach that goal and earn a college scholarship, she is going to train hard to place at elite-level tournaments during her junior year.
Freshman Chase Paglio said he fell in love with the sport after the first time he wrestled.
“I started to wrestle in third grade, and I instantly fell in love with it,” Paglio said.
He said moving forward, he hopes to start winning tournaments.
Paglio said he is proud of being on the team and glad to have helpful teammates and coaches who help him grow and improve.
“We just go out and wrestle harder than we did the day before,” said Paglio.
