The intense all-day wrestling tournament turned out to be victorious for the Issaquah boys’ wrestling team. After an intense day of wrestling from 7:30 in the morning to 9:30 pm, Issaquah wrestlers won five of the tournament’s brackets, giving the Issaquah High Schools boys’ wrestling team the win for the whole tournament against many of the other teams, including Liberty High School, Eastlake High School, and Seattle Academy. 

The wrestling event, however, is not just won because of the effort put out that day. Coach Rick Campos states, “Wrestling is a combat sport and when you shake hands with your opponent and the whistle blows, it is just you and that one-person face to face.” This one-on-one is mentally challenging but also physically taxing as well. It takes many hours of preparation and many practices and workouts before being able to step onto the wrestling mat. 

After their first matches of the day, and the first wins for Issaquah, there was a lot of preparation for the rest of the day. Once a match was over, the athletes had to mentally prepare to keep going but also maintain their physical condition. This maintenance was what kept many of the Issaquah team’s boys well-kept and prepared for their matches. Junior Declan Lewis, a wrestler in the JV 157 weight class states, “During the tournament the most important thing, other than winning your match, was staying hydrated and energized, so I had to do a lot of prep the days before making sure to eat well and drink a lot.” These extra steps were crucial for his victory, as he won first place in his bracket.  

The other winners, junior Joaquin Marin, sophomore Brycen True, senior Trent Bacon, and junior Ricky Campos shared the same opinion on the importance of the set up before the actual tournament. Especially because of the early wake up that all the wrestlers had to start their long day of intense matches.  

Marin, winner of the JV 175-pound weight class states, “The long practices of intense cardio and exercise really showed during our matches, where fitness is everything, without it we probably would have lost.” The physical training the whole team suffered through was the other key to their victory. Overall, there was no one match or one takedown that determined their win. The effort they put into their wrestling techniques and the mental and physical preparation they had to undergo is what truly won the tournament for the team.