This year marks 65 years of wrestling at Pius X. Alumni wrestlers were invited to watch the team’s dual against Norris on Thursday night.
Both Pius X teams won the duals, with JV winning 43-33 and varsity 43-30.
The teams are led by head coach Jerry Clinch, JV coach Jesse Andres, Josh Guerra, Rick Baumgartner, John Zach, Bryce Miller, and two new coaches this year, JJ Clark and Ben Goodwin. This year, the teams also include 49 wrestlers.
John Zach has been a wrestling coach at Pius X for about 17 years.
“My favorite part of coaching has been seeing the guys grow in wrestling and as young men,” Zach said. “I’ve coached guys that have become priests and guys that now have gotten married. I’ve enjoyed seeing their growth both in wrestling and in life.”
Zach explains that his biggest influence in this sport has been the previous coaches he had, who helped form him as a wrestler early on.
“You learn something from everybody,” Zach said. “We have had many coaches come through with different personalities, each with different views and sets of moves. But my favorite thing has been learning from all the other coaches.”
Theo Kastl, a sophomore on JV, has been a wrestler his whole life.
“I got into wrestling at a very young age,” Kastl said. “My dad signed me up for club wrestling and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Kastl’s favorite aspect of the sport has been bonding with the team and encouraging each other before matches.
Senior Zach Faust has been with the team all four of his years at Pius X. This year, he wants to lead his teammates and help them prepare, especially mentally, before their matches.
“My favorite part of wrestling is proving to yourself that you can do something that you may think is impossible,” Faust said. “If you think that you have no chance before you go out there, still try your best and being happy with your results.”
Faust began wrestling in preschool as most of his family also wrestled, including his older brother who graduated from Pius X recently.
“My whole family wrestled on my mom and dad’s side, so as soon as I was old enough, they got me into the sport and I never left,” Faust said. “Throughout my time wrestling, my older brother has always been my biggest supporter.”
The teams next compete at Mount Michael Benedictine at 5 p.m. on Dec. 19.
