On Saturday, January 10, the Junior Varsity wrestling team delivered a standout performance at the Bishop Amat Lancer Invitational. Despite facing one of the season’s largest and most competitive fields, featuring 64-person brackets, the JV team secured four podium finishes. Aiden Avendissan ’29, Finn Kapos ’28, Sarah Huang ’28, and Rocco Simpson ’27 all took 3rd place across different weight divisions.
Assistant Coach Steven Huynh, who is also the maker space director, noted the team’s grit, which proved critical to their success over the 13 hour tournament.
“Beyond the placements, the team demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and the ability to bounce back after tough losses,” Huynh said. “These are qualities that are essential in wrestling and competition.”
For the school’s athletes, the sport’s physical and mental demands have driven personal growth, according to Shrey Maniar ’29. He initially found wrestling intimidating but ultimately rewarding.
“The conditioning is very, very rigorous,” Maniar said. “But at the end of the day, it allows you to be able to learn some key skills and values in terms of accountability, responsibility, and commitment. It allows you to build pride in who you are and your abilities.”
Success on the mat requires both tactical decision-making and persistence, with matches decided by training and technique over sheer strength.
“When wrestling I’m thinking about what I want to achieve,” Maniar said. “I ask myself how I want to approach my opponent. It takes years of practice and commitment for even the best wrestlers to master moves, so you have to be ok with imperfection. It’s all about building muscle memory and working to make yourself the best you can be, pushing yourself beyond your limits at every practice.”
With a strong showing at Bishop Amat, the Wolverines seek to build their success throughout the rest of the season.
“Overall, this tournament was a valuable experience for our young wrestlers and a clear sign of the progress they are making,” Huynh said “We’re excited to carry this momentum into the coming week and continue building toward a strong remainder of the season.”
