As winter is peeking around the corner, the North Augusta Wrestling team is anxiously waiting to get out on the mats. Sophomore Bennett Merion and Senior, Day’Lyn McKinnis give The Buzz the inside details of how they are preparing and their goals they wish to accomplish for the upcoming season. With the new season waiting to start, the team must take some precautions to stay clean and healthy. As COVID- 19 is making the rounds, Bennett Merion states “before every practice everyone gets their temperature checked, athletes and coaches, and if they have any symptoms, they are immediately sent home. We also clean they mats before every practice.” Staying healthy is one of the wrestling’s team top motivations.
While new challenges arise, the wrestling team continues to put in the hard work. McKinnis shares “I am working out day in and day out wrestling, doing cardio, lifting, watching what I eat, and watching videos to perfect my technique.” Merion states “I have been training off season with other wrestlers; both high school and college students.” As these athletes are getting stronger on their own, they also have 2-hour practices, usually 5 days a week. With an upcoming season, these athletes are creating their own standards and motivations. McKinnis states that she constantly tells herself “to wrestle hard, have fun, and dominate.” Goals are a little different this year for Merion. He says “my goals for this season are to go to at least lower state, but because of COVID-19 there are limitations to how many people can go to lower state and state competitions. Only the top two wrestlers of each region of each weight class can proceed to the next level.”
Behind each athletes’ looks of intimidation, they always have a reason to keep pushing as hard as they can. McKinnis shares “my dad, brothers, team, and coaches motivate me so much to strive to be better. The drive and determination I have wanting to show people that wrestling is a sport for girls as well makes me also work harder for my success.” As the beginning of McKinnis’s last wrestling for North Augusta rolls around, she has a lot on her mind about her career after high school. McKinnis says “being a senior, I have been thinking a lot about what I hope to do or want to do after I graduate high school. As for wrestling I have been considering going to college for it and making it a real career, but I still have other options to consider after I graduate. So, wrestling in college is a maybe. Leaving the team will be a sad thing for me especially since I've been there for now four years, and I'm really going to miss my teammates, coaches, and just the whole program itself. The wrestling program has changed my life and me as a person, this sport has taught me so much mentally and physically and joining this team has been the best decision ever. JACKETS ON 3 FAMILY ON 6.... 123 JACKETS... 456 FAMILY! Stay gold.”
Both Merion and McKinnis hope that this season will work out and that their team stays healthy so each athlete can get a chance to accomplish their goals.
Photo Credit: Katie Beth Cannon
Pictured: NAHS Wrestling Team
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