The varsity wrestling team hopes for a successful upcoming season.

Ryan West, head coach, said that as a team they hope “to continue the traditions of the Plainfield Central Wrestling Program. We would also like to compete for a conference title, as well as a regional title and a chance to compete in the team state competition.”

Each athlete not only has goals they have set as a team, but also personal goals.

“My goal for myself and the team is to get better every week. Also, one of my goals is to qualify and place at state,” said Akwasi Aikins, senior.

The team has graduated a lot of great wrestlers, so it will be imperative that the team steps up to fill the empty spaces of the seniors who graduated.

“Filling those voids will be one of our biggest challenges. We have a lot of young guys competing for varsity positions,” said West.

Some of the wrestlers began the sport aspiring to take after their older brothers.

“I’ve been wrestling since sixth grade, and I only joined so I could be just like my brother,” said Roger Thigpen, senior.

Similarly Clayton Ledbetter, senior, has “been wrestling for fourteen years; my brothers started and I wanted to follow them.”

According to Coach West, change to the wrestling program is almost unnecessary.

“I don’t think that a lot of change is necessary in our program. Coach Kappas was a phenomenal coach, and I’m just trying to help each individual wrestler in any way possible to develop their talents so they can meet their maximum potential,” said West.

A sport involves each athlete to spend multiple hours together.

One of Aikins favorite things about wrestling is “bonding with my teammates and going to hotels when we go for overnight tournaments.”