Get to know the South Western Mustang wrestling team
HANOVER, Pa. — 鈥淪outh Western is a historic program. In recent history the team has been very successful and had outstanding performances from individuals,鈥� Nate Murren, head coach, said explaining the background of South Western鈥檚 wrestling program.
The 2022-2023 Mustang wrestling squad added some impressive individual statistics to the Mustang鈥檚 all-time records this year. James Bonczewski, Robbie Sterner and Natalie Handy earned spots on the all time fastest pins list with James and Robbie with 11 seconds pins and Natalie having a pin in 16 seconds. A typical high school match consists of three periods totaling 6 minutes at the high school level.
鈥淲restling is considered one of the most physically demanding sports among high school and college athletics. The wrestler needs to have not only strength and endurance, but also technical skill to be successful. Weight control and weight loss distinguish it from most other sports,鈥� according to the National Library of Medicine (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Seniors Robbie Sterner and Madyson Hickman explained their personal wrestling challenges, which are similar to one another. Robbie, who鈥檚 been wrestling for 12 years, stated, 鈥淭he biggest challenge in wrestling is being mentally strong. In order to stay in matches and become successful in wrestling you must believe you can win and accomplish whatever your mind is willing to do. I manage my mental toughness by listening to music before my matches to stay calm and joke around with my friends to lighten the mood.鈥� With two years of wrestling experience, Madyson鈥檚 response to overcoming obstacles on the mat closely aligned with wrestling veteran Robbie鈥檚 feelings , 鈥淚 would say the biggest challenge about wrestling is the toll it takes on your mental and physical health. Wrestling is brutal and it doesn鈥檛 just affect your physical health. I manage this challenge by making sure I’m always taking care of myself, and putting my needs first. Doing the simple things like eating right, sleeping enough, stretching, and cold showers can really help improve how you feel mentally and physically throughout the season.鈥�
Each wrestler can win or lose their individual weight class match but the team record reflects the overall combined wins and losses. Madyson summed up the two aspects, 鈥淲hat I love about wrestling is that it’s a team sport, but also an individual sport. You only have yourself to rely on on the mat. There’s nobody there to pick up your slack for you, so you always have to give your 100%. Wrestling makes you very self aware. I feel like wrestling is a sport that relies a lot on your mentality, and it teaches you a lot about yourself.鈥� Coach Nate also pointed to both the individual and team aspects, 鈥淭he team is motivated by their teammates. Wrestling is unique. The training is difficult and becomes a lifestyle if you want to be successful. You compete as an individual but the outcome is vital to the team outcome. Successful wrestlers are intrinsically motivated to be successful but need the support of others that are trying to achieve the same goals.鈥�
Co-captains for this year鈥檚 squad included Robbie and Madyson, along with James Boncezwski, Daniel Pierce, and Natalie Handy. Each one of them 鈥渁re the leaders and role models. They lead by example and have earned their teammates respect. The team looks to them to show them how to act on and off the mat. They are a vital part of the team鈥檚 success because they show the team the expectations and hold the other members to that expectation,鈥� according to their coach. Madyson added, 鈥淏eing a member of a team has taught me a lot about how to work well with others, and how to be a leader. Being a member of a team has also taught me that family isn’t always blood. Being a part of a team is like having another family that is always there for you on your best and worst days.鈥� Robbie has learned, 鈥淏eing a member of a team has taught me how to work with others in order to make my myself and teammates better.鈥�
When it鈥檚 their turn on the mat, wrestlers are keenly aware that all eyes are on them. This magnifies the positive and, unfortunately, the negative of your match. Overcoming mistakes can be challenging. For Robbie, 鈥淢istakes that I have made while competing is looking up the person I have to wrestle. When I do this I end up getting in my head too much and it throws off my game. I overcame this by not looking at who I have to wrestle and instead going out on the mat and wrestle the best I can each match no matter who I face.鈥� Madyson concurred, 鈥淚 feel like wrestling is a sport where mistakes can be good or bad. You could end up in a position you weren鈥檛 trying to get into, and it could help you or hurt you. I think no matter what you have to be able to move on. My mentality really helps me overcome my mistakes because I don鈥檛 dwell on them. I learn from my mistakes and do better the next time.鈥� As their coach, Nate鈥檚 goal is 鈥渨hen you see an athlete come off the mat knowing that they gave it everything they had regardless of outcome. Throughout the years I have learned to lean on others for support and guidance. Wrestling is an individual sport and you have to be individually motivated to succeed but no one does this job alone.鈥�
Before a meet, you will find each team member practicing their own unique preparation routine. For Robbie, 鈥淚 like to eat bagels with peanut butter and drink a strawberry banana body armour.鈥� While Madyson says, 鈥淥n match days I always make sure I have my food for after weigh-ins. I always wear my lucky boxers and listen to Katy Perry before I wrestle.鈥�
Coach Nate has been involved in wrestling his whole life. He started when he was 5 years old and continued wrestling during his years at Littlestown schools and college at Ursinus. Madyson鈥檚 spoke of her future goals which include Nate鈥檚 alma mater, 鈥淢y personal goals within wrestling are to succeed in college and show other young female athletes that wrestling isn’t just for boys, and to have a successful wrestling career at Ursinus College while enjoying myself.鈥�
Looking toward the future, Robbie will remember, 鈥淭he best advice I was given was to enjoy your practices instead of wanting them to end. Especially since this year was my last year I changed my mindset to get the most out of practice each day instead of wanting it to end.鈥� Madyson鈥檚 take-away from her high school wrestling time is, 鈥淭he best advice I was ever given was that you can鈥檛 let other people control the way you feel or the things you do. You have to prioritize yourself and protect your peace.鈥�
To his graduating wrestlers, Coach Nate said, 鈥淚 hope that when I am thought about as a coach they think about the life lessons that wrestling can teach. I just hope that all the athletes I have coached are better people when they move on from the program.鈥�
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