In the last several years, the EHHS wrestling team has made their mark on the sport and our school and have shown they are for this season as well. Wrestling is a hand-to-hand combat sport that requires a large amount of endurance and training. EHHS has a large wrestling team, consisting of over 30 people.
Wrestling is a complicated sport, differing far from your average basketball or football scoring. Each match in wrestling consists of 14 different pairings who face each other. Each respective pairings consist of two opponents who are listed under the same weight class. Typically, the team that wins the most individual matches wins overall. Depending on how the person won the individual matches, can change the outcome of winning. Coach and EHHS social studies teacher Mark Tolla explains how this may work out; “The team that wins the most individual matches wins the tournament, but that’s not always the case. Because if one team wins six matches by pin they get six points each so six times six would be 36 points. The other team could win by close matches for 8 rounds, earning 3 points each match, giving them 24 points. Making the team with fewer wins have a higher score, allowing them to win.” Mr. Tolla also explains how it is sometimes hard for outsiders to understand the basics of wrestling because of how difficult the rules are. This sometimes veers students away from participation in this sport.
As Mr. Tolla has been a coach of wrestling, he has helped improve the team tremendously through his passion and dedication to the sport. When Mr. Tolla took over the team, the team had 1 win and 19 losses. During his coaching career he has guided the team to 7 season wins, and only 2 seasons lost.
Senior Faith Papa, the wrestling manager has been a part of the team since she was in sophomore year. She explained that wrestling also has captains just like any other sport. The wrestling captains for the 2023-2024 season consist of senior Jack Fletcher, junior Alex Dombrowski and senior Tin Trinh. Jack Fletcher won 6th in the state open last year. The state open is the highest tournament for wrestlers in Connecticut. There were 100 kids in his weight class and he finished sixth overall. This is a highly difficult thing to do, causing Jack Fletcher to have to work very hard to achieve this goal of his.
Mr. Tolla encourages anyone willing to join the wrestling team, he claims that “It’s really great for students’ self-esteem. As far as fitness goes, I don’t think any sport will get you in quite the same physical stature that you would be in wrestling. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done for sure. I think anybody that does wrestling for a period of time has integrity, has character. You have to go out there and wrestle against someone. No one else is there to protect you or save you. The pride and satisfaction is unmatched.” Anyone interested in wrestling at EHHS is welcome to contact Coach Mark Tolla to join their team for the next season. Everyone is welcome.