Coming off a state championship from last year, NC’s wrestling team has worked hard all season long in hopes of defending their title. Assistant Coach Tyrone Fittje predicts the Mustangs have a shot at the state title, but that there may be some challenges along the way. “On all levels we are competing really well. At this point we’ve won a couple tournaments and we are doing well but we still have a lot to work on.” Recent practices have focused on teaching specific refining techniques that are supposed to help beat certain kids in order to place well at state in all of their weight classes. One of the biggest challenges wrestlers face, explains Fittje, is how long the wrestling season goes and finding motivation to keep showing up to practice. To stay competitive the Mustang wrestlers must keep finding the energy to improve and “…keep working through the grind, and try to get better everyday” Fittji states. 

With the biggest competitors being Thunder Basin and Sheridan “and several others in the hunt as well,” Fittji says, the Mustangs will have to practice hard. Brendyn Nelson (12), team captain, explains that “Sometimes we struggle with staying focused and we make sure that we can refocus each other, but just talking to them helps.” Nelson focuses his duties on “Making sure everyone is getting what they need out of practice and keeping the team on task,” including preparing the team for victory. 

The Varsity wrestlers will duel Douglas at 6pm in the NC Dalton Gym tonight, 2/3/22. It’s predicted to be a good match. When reflecting on his own team, Nelson thinks they “have come a long way. We’ve had a lot of kids improve and lots of learning.” Coach Fittje agreed with the assessment. “I am confident our kids are going to go out and compete as well as they can,” Fittji says.