Winter sports season begins with addition of wrestling

By Katherine Camberg

All of the fall sports are finished up, and winter sports are just beginning. There have been many changes since last winter including a new basketball coach, and the addition of a wrestling team. Soccer, basketball, and wrestling all have an interesting season ahead of them.

The wrestling team in particular will be an interesting team to watch out for. The wrestling team, which was just started this year, is being led by Coach David DeSilva. The team is for both junior high and high school students. TPA junior, Joseph Campbell says, “I am excited to learn about wrestling, and improve my speed and my reflexes.” The wrestling team will have their first competition on Friday, Dec. 2.  It should be exciting to watch this new team progress!

Our boys and girls soccer teams also have an exciting season ahead of them. Both teams have grown since last year: the girls team has over 20 players, and the boys team has over 30 players. The boys soccer program will even be able to have both varsity and junior varsity teams. The girls team is being led by team captains Mimi and Genevieve, and the boys teams are being led by captains Herman Flores, Jacob Cryder, and Jacob Matsumoto. Both teams have their first game of the season on Nov. 29 against Trivium Prep.

Both teams are excited to have lots of players, and are welcoming many new players. Team captain Genevieve Gaylor explains, “I am excited to play with my old friends from soccer and I’m also super excited to play with all the new players. I believe the season will be a lot of fun. We have a bigger team than last year, which will most definitely help us on the field.” More players means more subs, which will help our teams stay strong, and will hopefully lead to a better season for the Knights!

Basketball season is also starting up right now. The boys basketball team will be led by a new head coach, Lane Waddell. The girls team has grown this year, and has lots of underclassmen, especially freshmen, joining this year. The girls program will be able to have both varsity and junior varsity teams this year due to a large turnout. The boys team also has a lot of new freshmen joining this year. Lots of underclassmen will help the teams build for many seasons to come.

Liam Collins, a junior on the basketball team, says he is excited, explaining, “This season is a fresh start, and we’re hoping to improve from our mistakes last year. Our team is young, so our future is bright.” The basketball team is hopeful for this season, and seasons to come. The basketball teams have their first games on Nov. 29.

We have an exciting winter sports season ahead of us. Make sure to support our Tempe Prep athletes by watching some of their games and competitions. Go Knights!

Turnout good for new strength-building team

By Hayden Sampson

I could not tell you the first thing about wrestling, but I can tell you this: It takes a lot of will power and courage to be on the wrestling team. This year’s team has a good range of players, from a few strong upperclassmen to lots of learning underclassmen.

wrestlingJoseph  Campbell, a junior, says, ”I have had a great time so far and have gotten a lot stronger. The experience is amazing.”

Under head coach David DeSilva, the team looks to be on the path to success.

Wrestling is not an easy sport, but one that helps develop young wrestlers into strong men. Athletic Director David Brittain had this to say about wrestling: “Wrestling brings to my mind the classic speech by former president Theodore Roosevelt entitled ‘The man in the Arena.’ Wrestling pits one against another of equal size and weight, making for a great match that will portray who has the most skill, strength, and determination. It reveals who can use their body and mind in the heat of the moment. It is a daring sport to be in the spotlight of a center circle and win and lose with dignity and honor.“

With this new program in the works, TPA students should be on the lookout so they can come to matches and show support. Go Knights!