The varsity wrestling team was defeated by Lynbrook High School 39-11 in the Blackford gym on Thursday, January 5.

This was the team’s first match since mid-December. Though they practiced during winter break, they were not able to defeat the larger team from Lynbrook.

Nevertheless, Head Coach Karriem Stinson is optimistic about the boys’ upcoming matches and believes that the team will get better with time.

The players have recently been working with some alumni who used their own wrestling experience to help during the winter break.

“[It’s been] positive because it keeps the program growing and they’re trying to make the guys stronger,” said Stinson. “They’ve been working hard.”

Sophomore wrestler Vincent Lin appreciated the alumni spending time drilling the team over winter break and said graduates of the class of 2011 were “encouraging us overall.”

Alumnus Santosh Swaminathan (’11), a wrestler for 6 years, is one of the volunteers who worked with the team. Santosh noted that the players “have […] more work to do for the upcoming season.”

Although the match was league, Stinson feels that it functions constructively as “basic practice.”

“[We’ll have] some ups and downs, but as long as we stay positive, we’ll be fine,” Stinson said.

The team’s next home match will be held on the 19th against Wilcox High School