The wrestling team, a small group of just 14 boys, hopes to send multiple boys to CCS.

Sophomore Ajay Brar, who joined the team this year, is looking forward to gaining experience at tournaments.

“I want to make CCS because it’s my first year and just achieving that would be good,” he said. “I also hope more people decide to join wrestling since currently, since we’re a really small team.”

Brar, who does not have any previous wrestling experience, was recruited by wrestling coach and history teacher Kirk Abe last spring when Abe asked Brar to attend a pre-season wrestling practice.

“I came to the first practice, and I really liked it a lot so I just continued and kept going to practices,” Brar said.

Sophomores William Sabato and Kedar Abhyankar, returning wrestlers, are expected to place well in wrestling matches this year.

According to head wrestling coach Daniel Gamez, last year’s team did not have many chances to have pre-season workouts. This year, however, the team started conditioning early on. In order to prepare for the upcoming season, the boys had practice all summer long, including conditioning in the weight room, running on the track and lots of wrestling.

However, the team has lost a few key athletes, such as sophomore Paul Kerby, who is out for the entire season with an arm injury, and sophomore Kyle Abe, who will not be wrestling this season due to his busy schedule with gymnastics. Junior Gina Drapal also will not be wrestling because the long practices conflict with her homework load.

The team also lost alumni Christian Murabito, who won the CCS wrestling tournament in the 182-weight class in February, and Vince Rositano to graduation last spring.

Though the team has lost these athletes, they still hope to place well by improving in their strength and fitness.

“I’m most looking forward to just going out there and competing against other teams,” Gamez said. “We are definitely ready for this season to come.”