As autumn comes to an end and winter approaches, South Windsor High School winter sports are gearing up for their season. Student-athletes will soon occupy the gym and hockey rink, this new season brings back basketball games, swim and indoor track meets, ice hockey and wrestling matches.
The South Windsor High School Wrestling Team began preparing for their winter season early, utilizing the pre- season to prepare physically and mentally for the competitions ahead.
Senior Wrestler, Cole Merriman, has been actively improving through the preseason, specifically mentally.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work to improve and to break any mental barriers stopping me,” Merriman told The Prowl.
When choosing a winter sport, wrestling is appealing for students who wish to learn basic self defense, through a more physically demanding sport. The strict practice environment shapes team members into athletes quickly, and prepares them for the upcoming matches.
With the new season, new rules have been introduced to the wrestling community.
Prior to this year, coaches were unable to work with their wrestlers during the off season. However, due to the recent rule change from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors, SWHS coaches are now able to take advantage of off season training opportunities, giving SWHS wrestlers a head start to the 2024-2025 season.
Additionally, in recent years, highschool wrestling followed a two point takedown. However, in order to adopt more of the current college wrestling rules, CIAC requires a three point takedown, which will require high school athletes to shift their tactics.
During the previous season, the Bobcats wrestling team faced the challenge of playing without a large senior class. Finishing with an impressive record of 15-3, the Bobcats held their own despite their young team.
Currently, the team is sporting a much larger senior class, as well as a large group of underclassmen wrestlers.
The SWHS wrestling team is continuing to utilize the preseason to develop their players for the 2024-2025 season, with their first match on December 18th at Hall High School, in West Hartford.
