Dave Condit

Ben Herrmann has his hand raised after winning in a match against Lindbergh.

The wrestling team pinned down their goals for this winter season, striving for growth and development one match at a time. West’s wrestling program has 18 competitors, small in comparison to competing schools. They have doubled in participation and skill, despite various obstacles.

“Everything is going better than expected. Every time the kids compete we see noticeable improvement,” coach Clayton Kuehne said.

Although the wrestlers make up a team, the sport itself is completely individual. Likewise, individual improvement is one of the greatest goals of the team. However, the two concepts of the team and the individual go hand-in-hand. While individual gains are vital in program development, overall improvement by every participant on the team is key to competing at a higher level.

“We win our matches, but we don’t win overall. It takes a lot of dedication, but we’ve gotten better over the years,” team captain, senior Thomas Skelly said.

Talks of the program’s termination during the 2013 season left the team uncertain of their future. However, six freshmen joined the team, creating a foundation for the program to build on. The team recruits freshmen by scouting fall athletes towards the conclusion of the fall season and helps them prepare through running training drills and teaching moves to use on the mat.

“It’s challenging, and it makes you work harder at everything in your life,” freshman Michael Butler said.

Butler battles hearing loss, and has to take out his cochlear implants for wrestling. He reads lips whenever possible, but this setback still makes it difficult to understand his coach’s instructions. Butler’s perspective is shaped by his personal experiences, both good and bad, showing him that he can apply what he has learned about life to his wrestling.

“Even when you’re on your back, you can never give up, you have to keep trying,” Butler said.

An obstacle that the entire team must overcome is their lack of recognition from the student body. The team rarely has spectators attend matches, even though they are free.

“No one knows we exist. I’ve seen people walk into the wrestling room and say they didn’t even know it was there,” Skelly said.

While wrestling may be overlooked by the student body, it holds a special place in the hearts of its participants.

“Since I joined wrestling, I’ve gotten faster, stronger and more flexible, I can see myself getting better each time I go out there. It gets you in the best shape of your life. Wrestling even makes school easier for me because I have something to look forward to at the end of the day,” Butler said.

You can come support the wrestling team Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 at Francis Howell High School for the Francis Howell Tournament.