This year the wrestling team is taking a different approach to their practices. By popular vote, the team has changed its practice time and adopted an early morning training routine. They lift weights in the morning so that afternoon practices are shorter, allowing the wrestlers to go home earlier. In addition, with this new policy, the afternoon practice can focus on wrestling technique.
“When we lifted before we wrestled, the boys’ muscles were tired,” said head wrestling coach and history teacher Kirk Abe. “Now they have time to rest during the day.”

The team gets to school at 6:15 every morning and warms up by jumping rope, then goes onto a workout routine that is different day to day, week to week, constructed by Coach Gabe Tseng. After the workout, the team showers in the locker room and is usually finished by 7:40.

On Dec. 6, the Falcons started their season with the Peninsula Invitation Tournament at Half Moon Bay High School. The team placed fifth overall out of 38 teams. Senior Jasper Loren was the highlight of the tournament, taking first place in the 160-lb division. Seniors Nathan Nguyen, Richard Macklin and Holden Sparacino also placed, with Nguyen third in the 119-lb, Macklin sixth in the 152-lb and Sparacino eighth in the 171-lb.

Sophomore Jordan Waite and freshman Alfred Murabito got fourth in the 140-lb and sixth in the 125 lb respectively.

At the tournament, Saratoga went up against some of the toughest teams in the state, such as Palma High School, giving the team a good look at what to improve on in the upcoming tournaments.

“[The tournament] was good in terms of assessing what we have to work on for the bulk of the season, and what the competition’s like” said Abe.

The team is now training for the Sierra Nevada Invitational Tournament taking place over the winter break.

Due to publication deadlines, the results of the team’s dual meet against Fremont High School, held yesterday at Fremont High School, could not be reported.