TJ Heads into league championship affected by injuries.
Photo by Rebecca Holt
The formerly indomitable spirit of the TJ Spartan wrestling team has been partially subdued by physical injuries. Seniors Alec Groditski and Thomas Currington are both expected to be absent from the mat at this weekend’s league tournament. Groditski is out indefinitely with a separated collar-bone and a torn shoulder muscle, and whether he wrestles or not, surgery is in the future for wrestling star Groditski.
Currington, with a set of bruised ribs and some torn ligaments, is out for the league tournament, but is looking to heal up quickly. “As always, it depends on what the doctor has to say, but I plan on doing everything I can to wrestle at regionals.” If he makes it to regionals, Thomas had this to say about his potential success: “I am confident that I would place at regionals and qualify for state. Whether or not I would be successful at state depends on how my ribs feel after regionals. That will be the deciding factor there.”
With an anticipated six freshmen looking to headline the varsity weight classes this weekend, it will certainly be a true test of strength. Junior Guillermo Estrada, being the youngest experienced member of varsity, reflects on how young the varsity squad will be heading into this weekend. “So far we have been struggling in the higher weight classes. It is never, and never will be, a question of whether we are tough enough or not, but our skills have generally been lacking in key moments. That is where the rookie mistakes come in, and I can’t blame them…we all do it, as long as we learn from them that is all I can ask for.” With the end of the season looming, Estrada also gave his prediction for how TJ would finish off. “I think we will close out the season relatively well. We just have to learn to take practice much more seriously and honestly, and we need to drill our technique a whole lot more.”
Dealing with injuries and inconsistent line-ups that result in inconsistent wrestling is a lot for any coach to handle. Head Coach Mike Laurita, though, is prepared to end the season on a high note. He says he is tired of just flexing muscles, and longs for the league tournament this weekend to show teams the work that has been done. “Our expectations, for the league tournament, are to go in there and absolutely dominate the other team and bring home the title again this year.” Beyond bringing home the league championship, every wrestling team looks to send some wrestlers to the state tournament. “If we wrestle well at regionals and refuse to make mistakes, injuries permitting, we can qualify anywhere from three to five kids, easy.”
With the end of the season around the corner, the Spartan wrestling team looks to meet it head on, as they tackle another league championship and another competitive regionals tournament.
