Sophomore Wrestlers Deayla Tyler, Layli Farhoumand, and Jeaylin Wilson each qualified for the nationals championship on March 1, according to Coach Tayt Tolman.
All three wrestlers worked hard to achieve their placements and grow throughout the season.
“Having few seniors and a large underclass group was challenging. However, this is also a great benefit to us, as now we will have an experienced team coming back with a lot of success ahead,” said Tolman.
A big part of every sport, and especially wrestling, is the training, hard work, and dedication you give to the sport, as you’re always being watched and going through different situations that you may have never encountered before.
“I’m able to really put myself to the test and see that all my work really got me somewhere,” said Wilson. Every wrestling match physically tests them at every turn making them really put in work in order to win.
“There are some cases where you really have to grind it out in order to win, and so it’s a proud feeling,” said Farhoumand.
“The thing that makes me most proud in most seasons is the growth that every wrestler has, both in the sport and in themselves,” said Head Wrestling Coach Tayt Tolman.
Even with the challenges they faced this season, it didn’t matter, as all the wrestlers who played and won gained experience that they can carry into the next season.
“Love winning, but also the act of competing and getting better every single day, being able to represent Sunnyslope,” said Wilson.
While training and practicing are major parts of the sport, one can argue that mindset and courage are just as important. Being able to go out on the wrestling mat repeatedly can take a toll on a person, so being able to do it multiple times takes real dedication.
When wrestling, you need to take away everything that could be useful, especially if you have lost. The experience gained from any match is crucial, and taking a step back to catch your breath is important because losing is a part of every sport.
“I had to take a step back from wrestling and just get back into the basics of it, and the humility that everybody loses and everybody goes through something,” said Farhoumand.
Everybody on the team encourages and supports each other, surrounding each other with the same idea of success, helping everyone to achieve their best.
“Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals searching for the same success, having people believe in you,” is what helped the wrestlers succeed, Tolman said.
As the season has ended, the wrestlers are able to look back on their journey and growth, seeing how far they have come and the experience and memories they have gained throughout.
