Following a second-place finish in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) last year, the wrestling team strives for redemption this season. While the team ended 12th in the North Coast Section (NCS), the best a Redwood team has ever done, they look to break into the top ten this year. With updated California state rankings consisting of the top 70-80 wrestlers per weight class, there are currently four ranked wrestlers for the Giants including seniors Niko Sellers, Evan Daley and Nate Olsen, and Jose Ordonez. These four have hopes of making it to state after all their hard work.

Daley, who is ranked 27th in the state for his weight class, has extremely high expectations for the team this year. 

“Winning MCALs is not a goal for anyone who’s serious about wrestling. I’ll be honest, our league [is not great], so we have higher expectations. Our team goal is to place at NCS and for a couple of us, possibly [place at] state. It’s [been] awesome to see my progress. I know I’ve gotten better and I know that I can do so much better. I’m excited to see how I do,” Daley said. 

With no Redwood wrestlers making it to the state meet last year, they see this as a redemption year. Sellers, who was one spot off, is currently ranked 34th for his weight class in California.

“I’m very fired up from last season. I had a really tough match at NCS where I took fourth. If I had won that match, I would’ve gotten third and gone to state,” Sellers said. “Losing that match by one point decided that I didn’t go to state. I want my revenge from that match and I’m ready for this season. I want to get first at NCS and hopefully top eight in states.”

Only the top two percent of wrestlers in California make it to the state tournament, so these four wrestlers have to take matters into their own hands in order to qualify. Both Olsen and Ordonez were given honorable mentions in the rankings and also want revenge during the season. Daley recognizes the commitment he has to make in order to reach the team’s goals, also emphasizing the importance of individual effort. 

“What made me love wrestling is that win or lose, it’s completely up to me. It’s not my team’s win, [and] it’s not my team’s loss. It’s my point and my win. No one can take that away from me and I love that aspect. I can’t blame anyone for [what] happens in a match beside myself,” Daley said. 

With wrestling having so many individualized aspects to it, having a strong mental game is imperative to performing well in a match.

“Everyone is nervous when they wrestle. It’s whoever can keep their nerves lower that really decides the match,” Sellers said. “I like being able to be in these really tough situations. I learn how to be mentally ready for [matches] which also translates to school.”

Although both Sellers and Daley reiterate the individuality of wrestling, Daley also acknowledges that his teammates are the ones who push him to be his best. 

“My favorite part of wrestling is my teammates. It’s amazing to wrestle with them and go over moves and practice with my friends. It’s a really tough sport so if you don’t have people supporting you, it’s gonna be hard. If I wasn’t as close with my teammates, I probably wouldn’t be here on the wrestling team,” Daley said. 

As a team, the wrestlers took sixth place at their first meet, the annual Redwood Rumble, and although they did not do as well as they hoped, both Sellers and Daley finished first in their weight classes. The Giants prepare to dominate their next tournament at Northgate High school on Dec. 17.