Coming out of the pandemic, the wrestling team is looking strong for its first season in two years, coach Jonathan Kessler said. 

Kessler said the center of the team’s strength this season comes from its powerhouse seniors. 

“We have Cade Creighton and Max Felter for the boys who are wrestlers that have goals of becoming state champions,” Kessler said. “And then on the other side, for the girls, we have Ella Jauregui, and she placed 7th at the California Invitational Tournament last year.” 

Kessler also said the rest of the team is hoping to make it far this season. 

“We also have wrestlers behind them … their goals are to get to the state tournament this year and a couple of girls are vying to get to (Central Coast Sections) as well,” Kessler said.

Still, the team is struggling to find wrestlers to fill all 11 weight classes. Kessler said a lot of people quit wrestling over the pandemic and didn’t return to compete for this season. 

“We had a lot of kids come out a couple of years ago, and now they’re juniors and they didn’t stick it out,” Kessler said.

Creighton, who’s also co-captain of the team, said that the grit and toughness needed in wrestling can turn people away from the sport.

“The truth is that wrestling is a contact sport,” Creighton said. “It hurts. You’re going to have to lose weight sometimes, and it’s going to be painful.”

Despite the smaller team, Kessler said he is optimistic about the upcoming season. 

“We’re probably one of the top three schools (in the league),” Kessler said, “Los Gatos and Fremont are right there, and we’re not too far behind.”