Gallery • 13 Photos

By Marah Shulda

As his opponent bends over, senior Hayden Keopke tries to push him to the ground.

The varsity wrestling team took a loss in a dual against Blue Valley Southwest on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The score was 33-29.

Although the meet was unsuccessful, head coach Travis Keal felt positively about the team’s performance over the season thus far.

“Our kids wrestled hard and there were some close matches,” Keal said. “I’m happy with our effort. That’s what I wanted to see.”

Senior Conner Ward felt similarly about the efforts of the team at the dual.  

“I think we wrestled really hard,” Ward said. “We just came out a little short, but we’re a really good team.”

As a competitor who won his match, freshman Ethan Kremer was ultimately proud of his performance.

“It was a tough match,” Kremer said. “I didn’t start very well, but I found my way to get the outcome for the team.”

Kremer hopes to “get in the room every day and try to push [himself] as hard as [he] can” in preparation for future competitions. That kind of dedication is exactly what Keal hopes to encourage for the remaining meets in the season, he said.

“The effort is good. I can do a lot with their effort and their attitude,” Keal said. “[The wrestlers] work hard, they listen, they’re coachable. As a coach, that’s all I can really ask, [that] they come to practice with a good attitude.”

Ward is optimistic about his goals for the next competition.

“We’re just hoping to come out on top,” Ward said.  

The wrestling team will compete again on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at DHS.