Wrestling is a sport in which two competitors grapple with and strive to trip or throw each other down or off-balance. The objective of wrestling is to put your opponent on their back or to pin your opponent down. This is a highly competitive sport that takes a massive commitment in order to improve or to be good in. From what I’ve seen, wrestling is an incredibly difficult sport and it takes dedication from the wrestler.
For more insight on wrestling, I interviewed Wyatt Flook. Flook wrestles for Tuscarora High School and has been wrestling for two years, and this year will be his third year. He states that he first got into wrestling from, “… a class with the assistant coach (Chase De Mallie) freshman year and he and my father convinced me to try it for the first time.”
Wrestling is a very tough sport with various skills one has to learn in order to succeed. Some of these moves are called “takedowns.” Flook’s favorite takedown move is called a “low single.” This move is when the wrestler aims for the opponent’s leg and takes them down. Many moves and techniques are very difficult to learn but are effective when it comes to taking down the opposition. Numerous wrestlers believe the spladle is one of the hardest wrestling moves to learn. This is when a wrestler is in a defensive position on the mat, usually when their opponent has them in a standing or seated position. The wrestler will move their body to wrap one of their opponent’s legs with their own while they trap their opponent’s other leg with their arm.
In wrestling, there are different weight classes to wrestle in. In order to meet a certain weight class, many wrestlers have to either cut their weight, or gain weight. Weight cutting is a strategy to meet their competition’s weight class, which typically involves a strict regimen of diet and exercise for the days leading up to a match. Flook wrestles in the 126-pound weight class, so in many instances, he has had to cut weight in order to wrestle in this class. This process can include drastically reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity to shed water weight. As a result, wrestlers may eat very little in the days before a competition, relying on small, low-calorie meals to maintain energy levels while focusing on hydration until the last moment. For instance, Flook says his favorite pre-match snacks are oranges, which are a good source of vitamins but don’t make you gain a ton of weight.
There are three main styles of wrestling—folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman. Folkstyle wrestling emphasizes control and scoring through takedowns, escapes and reversals, focusing on maintaining dominance over the opponent. Freestyle wrestling allows wrestlers to score points for takedowns and throws, with fewer restrictions on holds, enabling attacks on both the upper and lower body. Greco-Roman wrestling restricts competitors to using only their upper bodies which emphasizes throws and holds and doesn’t allow any use of the legs for attacks. This showcases strength and technique in upper body grappling.
In conclusion, wrestling is an extremely difficult sport that takes time and dedication in order to improve. Whether in the ring or on the mat, it challenges athletes to push their limits and develop not only physical strength but also mental resilience.
