Forging the Spartans: Boys’ Wrestling Rebuilds for the New Season

Coming off a 3-5 record in the 2024-25 season, the boys’ varsity wrestling team, the Spartans, spent the off-season reflecting on its ups and downs. Although the team struggled to win consistently, several wrestlers performed well individually. Previous seniors and co-captains Koyo Keiter and Eric Ortiz placed first and third at borough championships, respectively. Senior and starter Muhammudjon Obreyev placed third in his weight class. 

Although several individual wrestlers advanced to the city championships, the Spartans’ overall performance fell short of previous years; members noted that the 2024-25 season was less successful than the 2023-24 season. Since regular league meets are decided by a cumulative result across all matches, the Spartans’ podium finishes at individual tournaments were not enough to offset losses elsewhere in the lineup, which ultimately prevented individual standout performances from translating into consistent team success. 

When asked about last season’s trajectory, guidance counselor and head coach Audra Parris explained that the team’s performance last season must be understood in context: “The first few years, we had just come back from COVID, and we were in a lower division, so we won all our games.” Parris said. “Since we won all our games, the following year, they moved us to a higher division. We did make the playoffs, but we didn’t go because they put us up against a competitive team in Staten Island. When competition is tough, results are going to be different.” This reframes last season less as a decline and more as an adjustment period for the Spartans, since they transitioned into a more competitive environment.

Coach Parris also identified the team’s inexperience as its biggest obstacle. She said, “Usually we have 30 veterans each year, but this year we have 20. Two or three members quit to focus on their studies, and now we are down to 17. We took on most of the people who tried out, and from my years of experience, any new person we take doesn’t have any experience in wrestling.” Coach Parris noted that out of the 40 members on the roster, only one had prior experience in the sport before joining the team. As a result, many wrestlers were forced to learn fundamentals through live matches and competitions during the season, putting the Spartans at a disadvantage against programs with athletes who entered their teams with years of training.

In addition to in-season development, members of the team also pointed to off-season training as a major factor that separated the Spartans from other teams in the city. Junior and team member Hayley Geoghegan said, “In order for you to be good at wrestling, you need to practice outside of school at specific clubs or practice martial arts, which most [people] don’t have the time for, so we don’t play as well due to off-season training.” Although the PSAL season is meant to be competitive, many members view the team as a more laid-back activity. As a result, wrestling is more of a seasonal commitment rather than a year-round priority, since students join mainly for the supportive environment and team culture rather than strict competition.

Despite these setbacks, the Spartans entered the season searching for early momentum. The team entered the winter PSAL season hoping to regain the strength they showcased two years ago when the team participated in the playoffs. Despite limited returning experience, early match results suggested that the team’s training had begun translating into progress. Their first match of the season was against Bronx Science, which ended in a 42-42 tie. Although the Spartans weren’t able to kick off the season with a win, their following match against KIPP NYC College Prep ended in a decisive 65-15 victory.  

Senior and Co-Captain James Sun said a mentality shift had begun taking root in this year’s roster. “There’s a lot more enthusiasm this season because we did a great job to spread awareness for our team and for wrestling,” Sun said. “Our members are more committed to working hard this year, which I’m happy to see.” Mentality will prove to be an important asset for the Spartans as new members grapple with the growing pains of adjusting to varsity.

The team welcomed a total of 26 new wrestlers to the roster this year, many of whom are adjusting to the varsity speed and the sport itself. Junior and team member Mabel Yang, who has already competed in varsity matches this season as a rookie, said, “There are a lot of new members this year, including myself, so there was an initial adjustment period. Some of the starters are also new, but they’ve been doing quite well and are adapting quickly to their roles. Regular practice is definitely helping us settle in and play more confidently as a team.” However, Yang noted that a significant portion of practice time is currently dedicated to helping newer wrestlers catch up, and, as a result, there is less time spent on developing advanced techniques that could be used against more competitive programs. This dynamic places the team at a disadvantage when they ultimately compete against harder competition. 

This year’s training has emphasized technical development and repetition-based drills that build wrestlers’ muscle memory. Live-wrestling training has also become a key component of practice, helping the members prepare for real match situations. Senior and team member Dickson Jiang said, “Despite it being disappointing that we weren’t able to win anything major previously, and even though we came close many times, we are looking to keep moving forward with the momentum from last year. We moved up to a tougher Bronx division, which shows progress in training.” Jiang’s comment reflects the team’s current emphasis on refining technique to remain competitive against higher-level opponents. The team’s current focus on weaknesses is preparing the wrestlers for longer, more physical matches, and their efforts have shown; they moved up a division in the league. 

Across the roster, the Spartans share aspirations for playoffs and tournament rankings. However, since the roster is primarily newcomers, success will depend on the Spartans’ ability to close the experience gap by accelerating development and balancing fundamental instruction with advanced technical drilling. If the Spartans are able to maintain consistency, integrate their new athletes, and continue fostering commitment, the team may be able to reclaim the competitiveness they showed in prior seasons, even in a more challenging division.