By Sisto

Ilwaco High School, Ilwaco, Washington
When I was a kid, I got forced into wrestling by my dad. It was the worst day of my life, my 7th-grade year. I was 5ft 11, I was weighing in at 190, and it was my first year of wrestling, the practices were hard; I was always the heaviest guy there and usually the slowest and slowest learner of the moves. It was hard my first season. I went 0-4 until I won my first match, and it was probably the happiest I'd been all season. It motivated me, and I finished the season 4-8.
I wasn't happy but I wasn't sad it was my first year so I didn't think much of it. I was motivated to get better and be the best next year and I put that work in. I started hitting the weight room in Long beach and at my brothers in Spokane and I would play outside more and get more athletic. I ate a lot of protein foods and drinks and it helped me lose weight and gain muscle
I was the still the heaviest on the team I was 6ft 211 wrestling 215 and I loved the sport now and I was easily one of more athletic kids and stronger on the team and I went 13-0 until I lost my first one to a kid that wasn't in our district and I finished the regular season 21-1
Then we had districts and I made it to the finals easily until I had to go against the number 1 seed I was 23-1 and he was 16-0 and i walked in confident and ready to win 1st in districts and i was up by 10 points and there was 7 seconds left so I just sat on top with a leg ride in and stalled until I got my stall warning but it didn't matter I was so excited I went 24-1 my 8th grade year
I just knew I was gonna do good my freshman year but I didn't end up doing wrestling due to injuries but I did do it my sophomore year and finished 31-20 and I made state and during that season I had 4 3rd place medal and 2 4th place which I think is good for a first year wrestling 285 grown ass men and I was the 9th seed at state
I was ranked number 3 in my district and I won my first two matches the first day then the next I lost them 2 and was eliminated but I was so close to placing as a sophomore I was up 11-2 i just got caught in a throw that chipped 2 of my teeth but im still so proud of myself and how I did and I can't wait for next year to show how much better I got and place next year and im glad the season over because it does take a toll on your mental health but without wrestling I wouldn't be who I am now and it very much helped me grow as a person.
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