Wrestlers are back on the mat and the weight room once again. With a team district title and individual state champions in mind, the Chiefs  are stopping at nothing to reach their goals this year.

“I want to be district champs as a team and have a top six placer at states,” said head coach, Steve Franco. “I also want to graduate kids into good colleges and further their education and wrestling career, which would be great for me considering I’m only 25.”

Wrestling is arguably one of, if not, the toughest sport known to man. From intense cardio and fitness, to maintaining weight, wrestling is the one sport where it has to be your life; eat, sleep, breath it.

“It’s a legalized fight. It’s 6 minutes, three 2 minute rounds,” said Coach Franco.

It’s the longest six minutes anyone would ever go through. Wrestlers have to learn to fight through the pain, cuts, and injuries that occur during the match.

“Wrestling is a nonstop match where two guys, pound for pound, are just going at it. I couldn’t compare it to football because you don’t stop and go, stop and go; it’s consistent hand fighting,” said Coach Franco. “It’s 90% mental and 10% physical. If you want to be successful, you have to eat, breath, sleep wrestling. 100% committed.”

The chiefs are having two to three hour practices every Tuesday and Wednesday to fulfill their aspirations. It will turn to everyday practices as the season rolls on and increase even more when districts and bigger tournaments come around. The wrestlers are looking forward to their first tournament coming up, the opener against Glades Central around November.

Support the Santaluces Wrestling chiefs this season and be on the lookout as they aim for a district title and state champs this year, hopefully having their name in the record books.