Updated December 7th 2017: The wrestling team currently has a record of 0-2 out of two matches against University High and Beckman High. Though their season is off to a slow start, four players have won their matches so far, which shows great promise for the rest of the season.

With winter sports season starting up, the wrestling team has been putting in hard work on and off the mat. Last year, the team was smaller, but has recently grown to over 30 players. With the addition of a new class of freshmen, the team is looking forward to a strong season while playing their first competitive matches in Portola history. Their first competitive match will be home against Beckman High and held at 2 p.m. on November 30.

“I’m most excited about the fact that [the team has] more kids this year and actual matches unlike last year,” head coach George Mares said. It is evident by observing the practices that there is a newfound motivation in the athletes to prepare for the upcoming season.

The team is also going to start competing in wrestling competitions against other schools. Last year they primarily just practiced against each other.

“I’m really excited to start competing against other schools,” sophomore Xavier Gavinlertvatana said. “It will be a great opportunity to gauge how our training is going.”

The team will be focusing on getting stronger and fitter for upcoming matches against other schools. They have recently been practicing techniques used in wrestling to take down the opponent, such as sprawling. This method is executed by players moving their legs backwards while landing on the opponent’s back and performing a takedown.

“I think our team is really improving as a whole. We work hard in practice every day to motivate each other to give maximum effort…This season is going to be awesome!” sophomore Cisco Badar said.