Wrestling: Small team to take on big challenges ahead

Boys of varying sizes and builds walked into the wrestling room on Oct. 31 all ready to hit the mat once again and wrestle after being away for six months. This year, the team will be under the direction of coach Joe Pele, who started coaching the Falcons last year.

Pele has high expectations after seeing what the team had to offer last year.

“Last year was our first year together, and that is always a challenge for coaches and wrestlers,” Pele said. “The greatest strength was the courage displayed by the Falcon wrestlers each and every time they stepped on the mat.”

The team will be wrestling in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League in the De Anza division this year. Last year, the team placed ninth out of 16 teams.

According to junior Henry Wei, the team had two league champs and three wrestlers in the finals. In addition, the team sent Wei, junior Zach Hansen, senior Alfred Murabito and sophomore Graham Grant to CCS, where Murabito took fourth while Wei and Grant placed within the top 16.

Last year’s achievements were impressive especially because the team had only 25 members. Wei said only six wrestlers—senior Connor Mullaney, Murabito, Grant, Hansen, alumnus Chris Burse and himself—had enough experience to be sent to wrestle in the league, which scaled poorly to the 14 possible weight classes that athletes can wrestle in.

Unable to supply enough wrestlers in dual meets, the team would lose frequently because each forfeit gave six points to the opponent.

“We don’t have that many wrestlers who can compete at the varsity level, so that’s one of our biggest weaknesses,” Wei said. “You can’t only have like 10 guys scoring points. You just can’t work it that way.”

Although the team currently consists of 20 members, Pele has been focusing on making each and every member an asset.

“Our strategy is to set the bar high and ensure each wrestler is well conditioned and trained in the art of wrestling,” Pele said.

The team hopes to win several state qualifications this year.

“I am looking forward to seeing men that strive to be greater than the sum of their parts mature, and learn what it means to be—magnificent,” Pele said.