Throughout the past few years, wrestling has continued to be a successful program and an important part of winter sports. This year, the team kicked off the season with a home meet on Nov. 27 against Riverside-Brookfield.

“We have a strong group of returning varsity starters this year that will help lead this team to a successful season,” said Griff Powell, Head Wrestling Coach.

Last year the team had a record of 9-9 in dual meets, Coach Powell said. Additionally, they had one individual qualify for the state meet. Gunnar Garelli ‘24 took 2nd in the state at 165 lbs.  This season, one of the top wrestlers on the team is Griff Powell Jr., his son, Coach Powell said

“My dad got me into wrestling, so when I was little, he just put me into it. And I just eventually learned to love the sport,” Powell said.

Griff has been wrestling since he was five and his dad has been coaching him since he was six.

“It has been so much fun helping him reach his goals, and be part of his journey in this amazing sport,” Coach Powell said.

Since wrestling is such an individual sport it is incredibly important to stay focused and calm when competing, he said..

“When I was little, one of my biggest mental blocks I had to overcome was I felt the constant need to be better than him because, yeah, I was just a lot of pressure,” Powell said. “My dad being the coach, I’ve always been around wrestling. So my whole life I’ve been in that gym with him next to him coaching, and I got to see what it’s like, what even what the highest level of wrestling is. And I just, I want to be at that high level eventually. And if he wasn’t there, I don’t even know if I would be doing wrestling.”

Wrestling at LT includes 150 boys, and 21 girls in the program, Coach Powell said. There are 5 different levels within the program including two junior varsity teams, a freshman team, in addition to the varsity group. The 1st competition was as an entire program on Wednesday, November 27 vs Riverside Brookfield at home in the Vaughan Gym.  All levels competed that night.

“As a team, our goals are the same each year,” Powell said. “We focus on improvement, and preparing each wrestler to get the most out of themselves,” Powell said.

As a program, they focus on having a strong work ethic and a positive growth mindset through the entirety of the season, which finishes on Feb. 22 with the state finals, Powell said.

“Wrestling is a sport that teaches you a lot about life and how to be successful,” Coach Powell said. “I wanted to give back to the sport that provided me with so many great opportunities, and help the next generation of kids reach their goals and develop successful habits in life.”

The boys next home meet is Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. against Glenbard West in the Vaughan Gym.