The WSC Club Wrestling team is back on the mat this season with big goals. After a second-place finish at conference last season, the team has set their sights on claiming the top spot this year.

“We have a lot of solid guys on the team with heart and the want to compete,” wrestling club president Caleb Berg said. “They are good people on and off the mat that are willing to help and do what’s needed for the better of the team. We may need some polishing in places, but overall, we have a good group of guys.”

Practices run five days a week, starting at five or six in the evening and lasting about an hour and a half. Early-week sessions focus on conditioning and endurance, while later practices emphasize technique and hard drilling to prepare for weekend meets. Club president Caleb Berg said this helps keep athletes sharp while minimizing injuries.

“Long term, I want us to finish first at conference,” Berg said. “But my main goal is to lead the team and structure practices in a way that everyone has the opportunity to better themselves every day.”

Recruiting new members and keeping morale high through tough meets and practices are ongoing priorities. The team relies heavily on the annual club fair to attract new wrestlers.

Keeping things fun and engaging with games at practices and making away meet weekends fun are small efforts that Berg makes to keep high energy throughout the long season.

“Keeping people motivated is probably the hardest part because it’s a tough sport and we are competing on a club level,” Berg said. “You really have to love your environment and love what you’re doing to keep yourself in high hopes throughout the year.”

Two meets in, the team is already seeing progress but knows there is more work to do.

“The team is not looking bad by any means,” Berg said. “But we struggle to go the full seven minutes, so just a little bit harder practice and more polishing of the basics are needed.”

Looking to the future, the wrestling club hopes to continue growing and eventually become a fully sanctioned Division II program. For that to happen, the team needs to expand and stabilize themselves for the future.

“My biggest hope for the future is that we can keep the guys we have year to year,” Berg said. “It’s hard to start from a clean slate every year, so I want to see wrestlers who love what they’re doing and make the effort to stick it out.”