Walkersville Faces Liberty In an Intense Home Wrestling Match
by Taylor Seabolt
The Walkersville High School Wrestling team gives the word “team” a new meaning.
These Lions began to work hard before the match even began by preparing the mats for a long hard fight. With a few words of inspiration from Coach Andre Jackson and Coach Chris Walters, the wrestlers get fired up for their match.
“I’m not nervous; if you let fear get to you then you won’t perform as well,” said WHS junior wrestler, Joe Goline.
“We are confident that we have a chance,” said Liberty wrestler Ryan Brown, a junior.
“I am confident and I have a really good feeling about this one,” said Liberty wrestler Jacob Slichter, a freshman.
Many fans look forward to the meets every week.
“My boy, Christian Isanogle, doesn’t know I’m coming, but I took off of work to surprise him and I can’t wait to see him wrestle,” junior Kailey Johnston said excitedly.
Both teams warmed up before getting too serious, although both teams were sporting blue and gold, Walkerville’s spirit shined brighter.
Before the match began, all GVAA wrestlers are recognized and the audience stood for the national anthem.
The first few matches were won due to forfeits by Liberty, the wins go to Garrett Broadhurst, a junior, and Christian Isonagle, a senior.
Every single match stood out in confidence and strength.
Senior Jake Borowski fought very hard and his opponent was equally clever in going for the pin. It was over very fast, but Borowski walked off the mat with the same self confidence as he did when he stepped on.
Senior Chad Gleason immediately got his opponent to the mat and the intensity was clear for the crowd to see. Walkersville’s fans cheered for the young wrestler as he and his opponent changed the score as fast as anyone can take a breath. Time moved on and the match was getting more competitive and more aggressive until finally Gleason had to stop because he had gotten a busted nose from his opponent. Still, he went on and stayed strong to finish what he started. Toward the end of the match, he racked up points but twisted his ankle in the process. Gleason fought through the pain sweat and tears to give the Liberty kid a fair fight. In the end, it was obvious that Gleason put up a very strong fight and gave Liberty High School something to remember.
Junior Ethan Perish came onto the mat and when the match began Perish managed to stay on top of his game the entire time. He pinned the kid in a little under four minutes and the crowd went wild.
Junior Joe Goline casually strutted onto the mat and as soon as the match started he pinned the kid. Goline took him down within twenty seconds of the clock starting and stole an easy win for the Lions without even breaking a sweat.
Teammates cheered one another on from the sidelines, even though many didn’t wrestle they still came to support their team.
The Lions didn’t win this one, but they definitely gave it their all.
