The RMHS wrestling team is preparing for their upcoming season, captained by seniors Will Merkle and Tariku Soria and led by head Coach Craig Murphy and Assistant Coach Chris Robichaud.
The team will compete against a variety of teams from both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Merkle has already committed to Johns Hopkins University for wrestling and at 144 pounds, was a highly ranked wrestler in the state last year. While Merkle is one of the shining stars of this program, there are many other notable members of the team. Soria was also a highly ranked wrestler at the end of last season, wrestling in the 138 pound weight class. Last year he broke the school record for most take downs in a single season.
Wrestling is one of the hardest sports, but there is a side of wrestling that people do not see. Beyond the intense training, there is a great team, amazing comradery, and an unbreakable mentality. Senior Quinn Yandle described how close the team is and said, “I mean, yeah, definitely closer than the other teams. Other teams, varsity and JV, practice separate, which divides the team in a way. We all wrestle together, and it’s a great way to bond with new people, and the entire team’s in unison.” This will be Yandle’s ninth year of wrestling and he has been on the varsity team since he was a freshman. One of his favorite parts about wrestling is the hard work he has to put in to get him ready for his matches. Yandle shared, “I like to grind. I like just going to the room every day and working my hardest, and, after, you have this feeling that you actually did something… And when I get a win, I feel like it’s very deserved.”
Yandle’s younger brother Nate is a freshman this year, and is excited about joining the team and wrestling alongside his brother. This will be his second year doing the sport. When asked about how the high school team compares to his previous teams he said, “It’s more fun, more interactive with the whole team, because in youth, I feel like you only wrestle people specifically in your weight class. But sometimes in high school, you get to talk to everyone.”
There are also many misconceptions about wrestling. As Coach Murphy noted, “I think the biggest misconception about wrestling is that somebody can show up, who’s just strong and be great at it, or, people don’t take into account some of the other abilities that you need to have, whether it be quickness or intelligence, or, being able to think in a certain way, in an athletic way.” This is what sets wrestling apart from a lot of other sports out there. It requires a lot more than just pure strength and athleticism. Wrestlers are placed against opponents in a similar weight class, are tasked with learning certain techniques to ensure they are successful on the mat and need to train themselves to be able to think and act quickly on their feet.
When asked about the team this season, Coach Murphy exhibited nothing but confidence in his squad. “I think we’re gonna be good. I think we’re gonna be very competitive in the league.” While it is safe to say that wrestling is not for everyone, it seems that the members of the Reading team have been putting in the work and are gearing up for a very successful season.
