Two grapplers persevere
It started with five. But it didn’t take long for those numbers to dwindle for the Salisbury wrestling team.
Between an injury to one wrestler and two others quitting the sport early on, the Falcons have been suiting up just two wrestlers most of the season: Zach Adams and Alex Nicholas. Both are seniors and wanted to finish out their careers with a sport they picked up years ago.
And while those departures have certainly made life harder in the wrestling room and on the mat, both Adams and Nicholas are gearing up for one last push.
“Nothing about this season has been easy,” head coach Eric Snyder said. “As coaches, being able to spend time one-on-one definitely helps them more because they get that individual attention, but it’s disappointing our numbers are where they are.”
The numbers have forced Salisbury into a number of tri-meets already this season in the Colonial League landscape, with Adams and Nicholas having to prepare for two opponents on a nightly basis.
“I don’t think the multiple matches have effected them,” Snyder said. “No matter how you want to look at it as a wrestler, whether a dual meet or a tournament, the mindset has to be one match at a time, and that’s how we have approached it so far. Wrestling multiple matches in a day definitely prepares them better for the postseason.”
But one aspect that has certainly affected the two grapplers is their practice time in the room. The two are far too apart in weight to go against one another, leaving the coaching staff and players to improvise at times.
“The beginning of the year was a little bit different because we had guys around the same weights, so we could have more of a formal practice,” Snyder said. “Now with only two guys, there are no real formal practices. We have been trying to mix it up as best we can so it doesn’t become monotonous. Coaches step in and wrestle when they can as well, and the guys do a lot on their own.”
Adams (6-7 on the season), who is regaining his form after overcoming a back injury he suffered in soccer season, has even traveled to practice at times throughout the season.
“Sometimes I go up to Whitehall and practice,” Adams said. “But when we just have practice in the room, we can’t really wrestle because he has like a hundred pounds on me.”
Nicholas has lost just once in his 14 matches this season, and the senior continues to impress after a summer dedicated to wrestling. The goal is to get back to regionals like last year, but to also take that growth another step forward.
“Alex has one goal and that is to [qualify for] states and medal,” Snyder said. “He has worked very hard since last season, putting in extra work over the summer and working out on his own after our practices. He works out with former state champ from Saucon Valley, Brandon Palik, twice a week as well and that has definitely paid off.”
Adams, too, has his eyes set on the regional tournament after missing out on that by just one win a season ago.
“Zach has the potential to wrestle far in the postseason,” Snyder said. “He started off the season very slow, but he has wrestled better as of late. At this point, record doesn’t matter and we are trying to get him to peak for a postseason run.”
The odds may certainly be stacked against the two wrestlers rather than being in their favor, but they have their minds set on doing whatever it takes to reach their respective goals. With a few weeks remaining until districts, they’ll crank it up one more gear to make those visions become a reality.