The Superior Bobcat wrestlers had a busy week before Christmas break rolled around back in December. They wrestled Monday, Dec. 20 against Florence, went up against Plains, Arlee and Thompson Falls on Tuesday, Dec. 21 and then finished the week at the Mission Tourney on Thursday, Dec. 23.

Coach Charlie Crabb said that the boys didn’t do too badly against Florence on Monday, a duel that took place in Superior. He said that most guys got two matches in.

Tyler Wharry wrestled in four matches, winning three of those. Dan Taron, at 135 pounds, went 2-0. At 145 pounds, Josh Wright went one and one, while Seth Lapinski wrestled 0-2.

Anthony Parkin, who wrestles in exhibition matches because he doesn’t meet any of the weight classes for varsity won two matches.

“We also had a couple of wrestlers that were sick,” Crabb said, “and so they didn’t wrestle.”

In Thompson Falls, Parkin won two more exhibition matches.

“His points don’t count, but he’s getting some good experience,” Crabb said.

River Sides went 1-1 and Taron lost his match. Wright went 1-1 and Wharry went 2-1. Lapinski went 0-2. Crabb said that he feels the wrestlers are doing well.

“We’re doing good,” Crabb said. “We have our first practice back from break and we’ll be focusing on getting back in shape and getting that turkey worked off. But everybody’s looking good and improving.”

Coming out of break, Crabb said that they have a couple of huge competitions coming up. They wrestled against Deer Lodge, Mission and Drummond on Tuesday, Jan. 4, and will head up to the Ronan Duels this weekend.

“It’s sort of downhill for us now,” Crabb said. “We have six more weekends before divisionals.”

Divisionals are scheduled for February 5. Wrestlers have to secure themselves a placing at divisionals to go on to state.

Crabb said at the beginning of the season that he felt that they had outstanding performances at state last year, and that his wreslters performed well at divisionals.

“It doesn’t matter what happens at the beginning,” Crabb said, “its how you finish. It’s rough at the beginning. You have to stay motivated and stay focused.”

Wresting is different from other sports in that even though you can score as a team, it’s more of an individual effort.

“It’s more of an individual sport,” Crabb said. “Individual success carries over to team success. If you lose, nobody else falls. You’re out there by yourself and basically what happens is up to you.”

Crabb said that there is a lot of discipline required for one to be successful at wrestling. He said that it is one of the most physical and mental sports.

“If you aren’t strong in both, you don’t do very good,” Crabb said.

Crabb said that though it isn’t a team sport, his role of coach is very clear. He said that he’s here to make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing and to push them.

“I want to keep them focused on their goals and help them to get better,” Crabb said.

From here on out, the wrestlers will be focused on improving consistently and peaking at divisionals.