Whether THS students have attended a match or not, the Tahoma wrestling team legacy doesn’t go unnoticed, conquering state in 91’, 96’, 12’, 17’, 24’, and 25’.

Through the eyes of a viewer, wrestling can seem like a rugged and rowdy sport. Behind the scenes, there happens to be so much more to the story.

Christopher Feist, Tahoma’s Head Wrestling Coach, expresses the true meaning behind the program “The Tahoma Way: Family, Grit, Gratitude, Effort [and] leadership.”

Wrestling is a sport past just staying in shape, where many more characteristics are built.

State qualifier Bum-Erdene Boldsukh states, “I think that Tahoma wrestling has really made me kind and watch my friends’ backs,” making it easy to see that wrestling plays a huge part in advancing character development.

While it’s a known fact that wrestlers have to cut and gain weight for matches, the true commitment that they dedicate to their sport is far more than expected.

Boldsukh shares, “Yeah, it was difficult to cut at one part because I was cutting 13 pounds a week…”

Most people know how difficult it might be to try to lose even 10 pounds in one month, and the discipline that Tahoma wrestling instates in their team just goes to show how dedicated they are.

Nevertheless, being prepared mentally for a match is almost as important as being physically prepared.

Wrestlers need to stay strong and not lose the match before it has even started.

State-bound wrestler Lily Feist vocalizes how she mentally focuses on preparing for a match.

“I ask myself two questions. Have I worked for this and do I deserve it, in which I convince myself that the answer is yes”.

This devotion it takes to mentally prepare for an upcoming match, is harder than the audience might perceive, yet clearly an important factor to winning a match.

It’s important to know that winning isn’t everything. When wrestler Feist was asked about what her favorite part of THS wrestling was, she responded with the community, explaining:

“I’ve met my best friends through the wrestling program and make connections that are like family honestly…”

Clearly, the sport of wrestling has much more depth than appears to the eye.

It goes beyond and practices how to be physically and mentally disciplined, caring and supporting one’s teammate and building everlasting relationships.