(Above) Charlie De Sena (left) and Zeno Moore (right), both grade 10, are running through one of the drill techniques during practice. Being a wrestler is a lifestyle of dedication and commitment, and it doesn’t come easy. “Traveling, making weight, competing, doing homework at the airport during a delayed flight, getting back Monday morning at 1:00 A.M., and then showing up to school the same day. It’s a grind,” Omer Barak, grade 12 said. Yet, he loves the sport because of the, “Sacrifice it entails, and the dedication…and the hard work you put in shows. There’s no hiding.” This hard-won relationship of devotion is clearly echoed throughout the team. Yes, it’s hard, but that’s exactly what wrestlers love about it. In this spirit, it becomes more than just wrestling. It’s tackling and growing from valuable life lessons.
Lake Highland Prep is a name every wrestler is bound to know. The school’s wrestling team has set national records for the most points scored in a high school state tournament and the most individual state champions in one season, with 39 D1 college signees and multiple alumni competing at the international level. There is much more than what meets the eye as stories are uncovered about these incredibly committed athletes. What got them to where they are today? What are practices like? What motivates them when they feel like giving up? Highlighting the incredible achievements of this team at Lake Highland, here are their wrestlers, on and off the mat.
