After a devastating career ending injury last year for junior, Max Stoddard, he is back on the mat having a comeback year, and getting his 10th win on Saturday, January 10th against Guilford.

Stoddard didn’t ever think he was going to wrestle, but South Windsor alum Jacob Gordon is the sole reason Stoddard got into the sport. Gordon was ranked 4th in the state as a senior at South Windsor High School and is still wrestling today at Western New England University. Gordon was friends with Stoddard and knew that Stoddard was right for the sport and made him join.

Stoddard has said that injury management was the hardest thing in this sport, even though he had to cut almost 25 lbs and went from 155-132, he has still said that keeping his body healthy is harder because he is very injury prone.

For it being Stoddard’s second year on the wrestling team, he is already super experienced and shows a different level of composure that you would normally see from a veteran wrestler.

Stoddard is 10-3 so far this season, and it would take the average person years to do what he has done in a short time. His focus on the mat is key because it takes calm and focus in order to make the right decisions to take down his opponents.

“To focus on the mat, I have to remember that it is a routine; it’s no different, and I’ve done this before,” Stoddard said.

Stoddard loves the bond that the team has together.

“He constantly brings humor to the team and lifts the team’s spirit making sure no one is left out,” former wrestler Ikkyu Raviwongse said.

He has built great relationships with his teammates and doesn’t only value his success but helps and wants others to succeed. All of the impacts they’ve made on each other helps them on the mat.