Four members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School wrestling team placed first at the Santaluces Holiday Tournament at Santaluces High School on Friday, Dec. 8. In total, nine Eagles placed at the tournament.
Senior Grace Mackenzie, sophomore Ariana Blanc and juniors David Leiva and Rocco Duygulu all placed first at the tournament. The other five were sophomore Haasini Vattikuti in second place, freshman Aniyah Smith in third place, junior Jackson Zajkowski in fourth place and junior Jimmy Messmer in fifth place.
This is part of a common trend for the Eagles this year, as they have placed every tournament they have competed at yet this year, including their opening competition at Boca Raton High School on Sunday, Dec. 3.
For many of the wrestlers, this is their first season competing on the varsity team. To be competition-ready, both physically and mentally, head coach Ken Gendason led training five times a week after school.
“This is my first year wrestling, as well as any support,” Blanc said. “It’s awesome knowing the work ethic I have been putting in is actually going somewhere.
The MSD wrestling team hopes to not only continue placing in their tournaments, but continually place first.
“For upcoming tournaments, I make sure I am not only physically prepared, but mentally prepared for my matches, which helps me perform better,” Duygulu said. “For my next competition, I am working hard to take first place.”
Their wins throughout this wrestling season will ultimately lead to district competitions and state championships, which is the main goal of the Eagles.
“I hope to keep winning first and make it and win states,” Leiva said.
The men’s varsity wrestling team will compete on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16 at Archbishop McCarthy High School and hopes to place again.
“In the next comp[etition], I hope to play my part and help us win District Duels,” Leiva said.
The Lady Eagles are set for a historic match on Thursday, Dec. 14 at South Broward High School at 4 p.m. This marks the first time in MSD history that the Lady Eagles will wrestle against another women’s team. South Broward is currently the number one ranked team in Broward County, with the Eagles in second place.
