Lincoln hosts 12 high schools in 7 on 7 Team Wrestling Tournament

[June 20, 2016]  Wrestlers enjoyed a little off-season competition held at Lincoln Community High School on Saturday. The event began with a clinic held at 8 a.m. with tournament matches starting at 9 a.m. and going through the day.

A winter sport, normal high school competition is divided into 14 weight classes. The event on Saturday featured only seven weight classes.

According to Lincoln's Head Coach Justin Dietrich, the weights classes are not tightly regulated, allowing a few pounds over or under, to allow for the athletes to gain experience. Now in its third year, the tournament is really appreciated by the coaches. The aim of the whole tournament is to just give the students some a more laidback competition opportunity.

One of the further distance teams in attendance came from Streator, an hour and forty five minute interstate drive. While Coach John Sandoval was up at 4 a.m. to commute from home in Bloomington to pick up his team, the team left Streator at 5:45 a.m. in order to make the 8 a.m. clinic.

Late morning the team members were hanging out resting up before the afternoon matches. The young men shared a few of their thoughts on the sport and the day.

Every one of the athletes participated in some other competitive sport, which enhanced their fitness. Only one was in football, another in golf, another played tennis. Primarily, others played a mix that included soccer, cross country and track events.

The students had an awareness of their future following high school with college and wrestling hopes for some.

The boys said that what they appreciated most from the morning clinic was hearing, "It is not about winning or losing, but to remember it is fun."

To Coach Sandoval, who has been coaching wrestling over 20 years, five with the Streator team, it is a passion. A math teacher, he entered his career so he could coach. He said it used to be the Illinois High School Association required you had to be a teacher to coach. And, it is easy to see when talking to him, he still has the fever. He spoke about having his eye on certain students not yet in high school and the hope to recruit them to the sport.

Looking around the filled gymnasiums during matches, it was obvious the day was about bringing the athletes together to foster a healthy attitude and spirit for the sport, and to provide a more relaxed opportunity for students to get on the mats.

Also evidenced was passion and commitment to wrestling of many adults, including referees and a few college coaches sitting arena-side.

[Jan Youngquist]